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I have heard this argument so many times that I cannot count from sedevacantists and I think it is a good argument for sedevacantism. But he acts as if this argument ends all debate and proves that sedevacantism is true. I disagree. He does not adress the point which I think is a strong agrument for sedeplenism which is that it is a teaching of the Church that if the whole Church accepts a man as Pope it is proof that he is really the Pope. All of the concilar Popes (especially John XXIII and Paul VI. There were a few thousand sedevacantists who rejected the conciliar Popes I believe starting around the time the Novus Ordo came out but I don't think that there were enough for it to be significant) have been accepted by the whole Church so that should prove that they were and are true Popes. Even today of the billion people who claim to be Catholic all but a few thousand sedevacantists accept Francis, so pretty much the whole Church accepts him.

Thanks for your reply.  Your point is interesting.  In summary, you indicate [the Church teaches] that if a person is recognized as the Pope then that person is in fact the pope.  Is it possible for a non-Catholic to become pope in this manner?  May I request a reference to material that supports this sedeplenism orientation?

I am sorry but I cannot give you a link. It is just something I learned about the Church from others who were more knowledgeable than me who know which exact docuмents of the Church teach this. Hopefully someone who knows more than me can point you in the right direction. I have read it used as an argument against sedevacantism and I have read sedevacantists acknowledge the teaching as true and try to explain how it does not contradict sedevacantism.

As far as non-Catholics becoming Pope, I don't know what would happen because I do not know how to reconcile these teachings in that case. Should I accept a non-Catholic as Pope as Padre Pio recognized Paul VI (who I consider to have been a non-Catholic) or should I reject him as Pope like Bishop Pivarunas? I don't know which is why my position is one of doubt. I think both sides have good arguments and it is a mystery to me.