WI/AHC Pope Talleyrand

Personally I can't believe no one has thought or suggested this before. The challenge, as the title suggests, is to get Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, France's most famous diplomat and sometime clergymen, elected to the Papal throne. Obviously he'd have to remain a cleric, but that's the only legal block. How could this be done? Maybe the French captures the College of Cardinals at Pius VI's death in 1799 and forces them to elect a Frenchmen (Talleyrand)? Or Napoleon decides to depose Pius VII and creates his own Anti-Pope in Avignon? Or another scenario I've yet to think of?
 
You do need to be single, and I'm not sure if the "your wife is now dead" trick works for popes, and a divorce won't work either.
 
You do need to be single, and I'm not sure if the "your wife is now dead" trick works for popes, and a divorce won't work either.

I know a few widowers were elected Pope in earlier centuries, so legally being widowed wouldn't be an impediment. And obviously this would mean Talleyrand wouldn't marry Catherine Grand.
 
Technically, you don't haveto be a priest to be Pope.

Well, actually, you do.

What you don't have to be is a priest when elected.

IIRC when Ambrose was elected bishop baptised the first day, ordained a priest the second day, and ordained bishop the third. (I might have the wrong saint, but I think it was Ambrose.)

So, ordaining someone a priest on day 1, bishop on day 2 and pope on day 3 is entirely possible. For instance.

During a period of intense rivalry between Roman noble families, at least three laymen were elected pope: Benedict VIII (1012 - 24); John XIX (1024 - 32); and Benedict IX (1032 - 44; 1045; 1047 - 48).
 
Well, actually, you do.

What you don't have to be is a priest when elected.

IIRC when Ambrose was elected bishop baptised the first day, ordained a priest the second day, and ordained bishop the third. (I might have the wrong saint, but I think it was Ambrose.)

So, ordaining someone a priest on day 1, bishop on day 2 and pope on day 3 is entirely possible. For instance.

Also true. But can we get back to the point of the discussion: getting Talleyrand as Pope and what his Papacy would look like.
 
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