Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => General Discussion => Topic started by: forlorn on May 11, 2019, 06:41:40 PM
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I've recently heard of the cases of Pope St. Silverius, who was deposed by Emperor Justinian and replaced by Pope Vigilius. As I understand it, Pope Vigilius is regarded as a true pope and not an anti-pope. So my question is, how was Pope Vigilius' election valid if Pope St. Silverius was still alive and hadn't resigned of his own free will? What am I missing here?
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After Agapetus's death on 22 April, 536, Vigilius return to Rome (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13164a.htm) equipped with letters from the imperial Court and with money. Meanwhile Silverius had been made pope (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm) through the influence of the King of the Goths (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11347d.htm). Soon after this the Byzantine commander Belisarius garrisoned the city of Rome (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13164a.htm), which was, however, besieged again by the Goths (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11347d.htm). Vigilius gave Belisarius the letters from the Court of Constantinople, which recommended Vigilius himself for the Papal See. False accusations now led Belisarius to depose Silverius. Owing to the pressure exerted by the Byzantine commander, Vigilius was elected pope (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm) in place of Silverius and consecrated (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04276a.htm) and enthroned (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05479c.htm) on 29 March, 537. Vigilius brought it about that the unjustly (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08010c.htm) deposed Silverius was put into his keeping where the late pope (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm) soon died from the harsh treatment he received. After the death of this predecessor Vigilius was recognized as pope (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm) by all the Roman clergy (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04049b.htm). Much in these accusations against Vigilius appears to be exaggerated, but the manner of his elevation to the See of Rome (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07424b.htm) was not regular.
Source: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15427b.htm
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I take that to mean that Silverius was still the pope until he died. Only after Silverius died did the Roman clergy recognize Vigilius as the pope. I also understand that others will argue that Vigilius was the true pope before Silverius died but I don't think that could ever be certain. What is certain is that the Roman clergy all accepted Vigilius as the true pope after Silverius died and that Vigilius was actually Catholic, unlike the pretender popes of the Conciliar sect.
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I take that to mean that Silverius was still the pope until he died. Only after Silverius died did the Roman clergy recognize Vigilius as the pope. I also understand that others will argue that Vigilius was the true pope before Silverius died but I don't think that could ever be certain. What is certain is that the Roman clergy all accepted Vigilius as the true pope after Silverius died and that Vigilius was actually Catholic, unlike the pretender popes of the Conciliar sect.
Right, no contradiction with the papal dogmas. Nothing to see here move on.
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I take that to mean that Silverius was still the pope until he died. Only after Silverius died did the Roman clergy recognize Vigilius as the pope. I also understand that others will argue that Vigilius was the true pope before Silverius died but I don't think that could ever be certain. What is certain is that the Roman clergy all accepted Vigilius as the true pope after Silverius died and that Vigilius was actually Catholic, unlike the pretender popes of the Conciliar sect.
So Vigilius' election retroactively became valid by way of Peaceful Universal Acceptance?
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So Vigilius' election retroactively became valid by way of Peaceful Universal Acceptance?
Not exactly. Recall that Cardinals had not yet been instituted and the election of the Pope/Bishop of Rome was done by the Roman clergy. So this acclamation/acceptance by the Roman clergy entailed an at-least-tacit election of Vigilius. Silverius remained Pope until his death ... at which point there took place the tacit election of Vigilius.
This is in fact a precedent for the Siri thesis. Like Silverius, Siri was illegitimately deposed and therefore remained Pope even if the Cardinals/Roman clergy accepted another while the former still lived.
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Part of the valid election of a Pope is his acceptance of that election. If Siri refused to accept that election them he is not the Pope.