As it says on the tin, let the Anglican-turned-Catholic cardinal become pope. What sort of repercussions might we see if this happens. As to breaking the Italian stranglehold on the conclave, maybe he's a good compromise candidate and that's the reason they elect him.
 
What if Pius IX creates him cardinal instead? Newman was a Catholic priest between 1846, and yet was only created cardinal in 1879, when he was 78. So perhaps Pius names him cardinal around the early 60s. That way he can vote in conclave when Pius drops dead in 1878. Although, OTOH, just let Pius IX and Leo XIII not live so damned long and maybe a Newmanite/Oxford Papacy could happen?
 
My parish is Oratorian, and the Blessed Cardinal is a great patron of mine; what a terrific WI!

I believe that Cardinal Newman (let us call him Pope Hadrian VII, after the only other English Pope, though he may well have chosen to be the first Pope Augustine, after his own patron saint, or Pope Philip, after the founder of his religious congregation) would have made a terrific Pontiff. He was of course an unswerving traditionalist in terms of doctrine, but he was a gentleman at heart, capable of engaging with both Protestants and liberal Catholics. He would have added a wonderfully intellectual and theological dimension to the Papacy, in a century which was filled with Popes largely concerned with

Let us say that some of the concerns Pius IX had with his theology are ironed out, and he is duly ordained a Cardinal in the early 1870s. I expect that he would have remained a Prisoner in the Vatican, like his predecessor. He was a man who always demurred to the authority of the Papacy, and I have no doubt that he would have maintained that the occupation of Rome by the Savoyards was illegal. Unlike Leo XIII, I strongly doubt that Pope Hadrian would have given tacit recognition to the French Republic; he was a royalist throughout his life. As for liberalism in the Church itself, I have no doubt that he would have attacked it as fiercely as Pope Pius X did; this is the man who wrote "For thirty, forty, fifty years I have resisted to the best of my powers the spirit of liberalism in religion, which is an error overspreading, as a snare, the whole earth".

I'm sure England would be very divided as to the new Pope; on the one hand, the greatest Empire on earth now can boast that one of their race is the spiritual leader of half the world. On the other hand.... he is a Catholic. Perhaps Pope Adrian might lead a stronger drive within the Church to bring the Tractarians back to Rome, though I doubt any major schism would occur. One major act undertaken in the reign of Pope Leo was the declaration that Anglican orders are invalid; I personally think that Newman would have made a similar statement.

I am sure that there would be more conversions amongst the English, and that the profile of the Oratory would be raised. In terms of Ireland, the new Pope had lived there for a time, and was warmly affectionate to the Irish. However, he never supported Irish independence; I could see a Papal encyclical disavowing the use of violence to rebel against the Crown. Pope Leo XIII canonised the English martyrs in the 1880s; I have no doubt that Newman would do the same.
 
I believe that Cardinal Newman (let us call him Pope Hadrian VII, after the only other English Pope, though he may well have chosen to be the first Pope Augustine, after his own patron saint, or Pope Philip, after the founder of his religious congregation) would have made a terrific Pontiff. He was of course an unswerving traditionalist in terms of doctrine, but he was a gentleman at heart, capable of engaging with both Protestants and liberal Catholics. He would have added a wonderfully intellectual and theological dimension to the Papacy, in a century which was filled with Popes largely concerned with

Let us say that some of the concerns Pius IX had with his theology are ironed out, and he is duly ordained a Cardinal in the early 1870s. I expect that he would have remained a Prisoner in the Vatican, like his predecessor. He was a man who always demurred to the authority of the Papacy, and I have no doubt that he would have maintained that the occupation of Rome by the Savoyards was illegal. Unlike Leo XIII, I strongly doubt that Pope Hadrian would have given tacit recognition to the French Republic; he was a royalist throughout his life. As for liberalism in the Church itself, I have no doubt that he would have attacked it as fiercely as Pope Pius X did; this is the man who wrote "For thirty, forty, fifty years I have resisted to the best of my powers the spirit of liberalism in religion, which is an error overspreading, as a snare, the whole earth".

I'm sure England would be very divided as to the new Pope; on the one hand, the greatest Empire on earth now can boast that one of their race is the spiritual leader of half the world. On the other hand.... he is a Catholic. Perhaps Pope Adrian might lead a stronger drive within the Church to bring the Tractarians back to Rome, though I doubt any major schism would occur. One major act undertaken in the reign of Pope Leo was the declaration that Anglican orders are invalid; I personally think that Newman would have made a similar statement.

I am sure that there would be more conversions amongst the English, and that the profile of the Oratory would be raised. In terms of Ireland, the new Pope had lived there for a time, and was warmly affectionate to the Irish. However, he never supported Irish independence; I could see a Papal encyclical disavowing the use of violence to rebel against the Crown. Pope Leo XIII canonised the English martyrs in the 1880s; I have no doubt that Newman would do the same.

How active would he be on the political scene, I wonder? And it would be interesting to see if he were to grant the dispensation for Hélène d'Orléans to marry Eddy. Esp. if he's disavowing the French republic at the same time.
 
How active would he be on the political scene, I wonder? And it would be interesting to see if he were to grant the dispensation for Hélène d'Orléans to marry Eddy. Esp. if he's disavowing the French republic at the same time.

I daresay that he would grant a dispensation, but only if the Comte de Paris gave permission. Perhaps a little chat between the Pontiff and the King could change his mind?

He certainly would not be as politically active as Pope Leo; the loss of something like Rerum Novarum would likely have a significant impact on the future of political Catholicism. Theologically, his reign would have been very interesting; I could see him reconvening the Vatican Council.
 
I daresay that he would grant a dispensation, but only if the Comte de Paris gave permission. Perhaps a little chat between the Pontiff and the King could change his mind?

He certainly would not be as politically active as Pope Leo; the loss of something like Rerum Novarum would likely have a significant impact on the future of political Catholicism. Theologically, his reign would have been very interesting; I could see him reconvening the Vatican Council.

Well, even if not for Eddy, I wonder if he might do the same for Nicky?
Which could have interesting effects on the thawing of relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

As to him reconvening Vatican I, seeing what he might or might not push through will certainly be good sports
 
Well, even if not for Eddy, I wonder if he might do the same for Nicky?
Which could have interesting effects on the thawing of relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

As to him reconvening Vatican I, seeing what he might or might not push through will certainly be good sports

Maybe not a thawing of relations - but definitely a saving grace for Russia's future if he grants the dispensation, since by removing Alicky, one removes the haemophilia she carried, thus Rasputin has no "in" at the Russian court
 
Maybe not a thawing of relations - but definitely a saving grace for Russia's future if he grants the dispensation, since by removing Alicky, one removes the haemophilia she carried, thus Rasputin has no "in" at the Russian court

I won't say he has no in, the Montenegrin princesses who introduced him to Alix are still likely to be there, and Nicky, was, after all, "like a pillow, he bore the impression of whoever had sat on him last".

As to Newman granting the dispensation after talking to the Comte de Paris, I wonder what effects a Catholic queen might have in England, given all the popish hysteria in the 1850s/1860s.
 
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