Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered that Giovanni Batista Montini was a possible candidate, but, although he was Archbishop of one of the most ancient and prominent Sees in Italy, he was denied the Cardinalate. As a result, he was not present at the 1958 conclave and most of the cardinals abided by the established precedent of voting only for a member of the College of Cardinals, in spite of the affirmation in Canon Law that any Catholic male could be chosen.
WI the Cardinals voted for an ousider? He would be the first non-Cardinal elected Pope in 580 years after the election of Bartolomeo Prignano as Pope Urban VI in 1378...
How is a potential Montini election altering History? II Vatican Synod still occurs? Any thoughts?
WI the Cardinals voted for an ousider? He would be the first non-Cardinal elected Pope in 580 years after the election of Bartolomeo Prignano as Pope Urban VI in 1378...
How is a potential Montini election altering History? II Vatican Synod still occurs? Any thoughts?