Pope-elect Stephen
Pope-elect Stephen (died 25 March 752) was a Roman priest selected in March 752 to succeed Pope Zachary. Because he died before he was consecrated, he is considered only a pope-elect rather than a legitimate pope.
Pope-elect Stephen | |
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| Predecessor | Zachary |
| Successor | Stephen II (as Pope) Celestine II (as Pope-elect) |
| Orders | |
| Created cardinal | 745 by Zachary |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Died | 25 March 752 Rome |
| Previous post(s) | Cardinal-priest of San Crisogono (745–752) |
| Other popes named Stephen | |
Election to the Papacy
In 745, Stephen was made a cardinal-priest by Pope Zachary. His titular church was San Crisogono. Zachary died in mid-March 752. On 23 March, Stephen was selected to become the new pope. He died of a stroke only days later, before being consecrated as bishop of Rome.[1][2]
According to the canon law of the time, a pope's pontificate started upon his consecration.[3] Later canon law considered that a man became pope the moment he accepted his election, and Pope-elect Stephen was then anachronistically called Pope Stephen II.[4] His name was removed from the list of popes in the Annuario Pontificio in 1961.[5]
References
- "Horace Mann, "Pope Stephen II" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 2013)".
- History's great untold stories: larger than life characters & dramatic ... By Joseph Cummins. National Geographic Books. p. 13.
- Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 ISBN 978-88-209-8722-0), p. 11*
- For example, see Rev. Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Full Catechism of the Catholic Religion (translated by Rev. John Fander; 1863), p. 60-61.
- Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes (Harper Collins 2013 ISBN 978-0-06228834-9), p. 121
