WI Pope Pius XII abdicates in 1953?

Late in 1953, Pope Pius XII became sick. A strong hic-up developed and his doctor asked him to rest. He refused with the consequence that soon after he had to rest for five weeks. In a race with death, his gastritis prohibited food-intake and the hic-up accelerated. He was ready to resign the Papacy. However he changed his mind shortly after and remained Pope until his death in 1958.
WI Pope Pius XII had abdicate in 1953? Could he had controlled the election of his successor or influence the new Pope's politics? How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 
The question of a Pope's resignation came up in 2005 when John Paul II became ill. Most analysts thought the Pope must remain seated for life, and if incapacitated, the cardinals and bishops would simply conduct essential business around him. That means no new cardinals and no encyclicals for a period of time.
 

Susano

Banned
That is nonsense. There is precedence of popes abdicating, canonical law is quite clear on that matter. Of course, it hasnt been done in centuries...
 
The question of a Pope's resignation came up in 2005 when John Paul II became ill. Most analysts thought the Pope must remain seated for life, and if incapacitated, the cardinals and bishops would simply conduct essential business around him. That means no new cardinals and no encyclicals for a period of time.

Canon Law forbids Cardinals, Archbishops etc. to decide for matters reserved only for Pope...
Day-to-day regular business will be conducted as usual even if Pope is incapacitated but for matters that only Pope can decide they have to wait either Pope's recovery or Pope's death and the election of a new Pope...
Plus an incapacitated Pope cannot resign nor being removed...
 
The supremely obnoxious Spellman would go into this conclave thinking he is going to be the first American Pope and have a very rude awakening. I am not sure who would be most likely. The general dynamic of the 1958 was a vague consensus amongst the cardinals to move a step or two to the Left politically but with a sharp divide between progressives and conservatives theologically which resulted in a compromise interim Pope who was Left of Center politically but perceived to theologically indifferent.
 
The supremely obnoxious Spellman would go into this conclave thinking he is going to be the first American Pope and have a very rude awakening. I am not sure who would be most likely. The general dynamic of the 1958 was a vague consensus amongst the cardinals to move a step or two to the Left politically but with a sharp divide between progressives and conservatives theologically which resulted in a compromise interim Pope who was Left of Center politically but perceived to theologically indifferent.

I thought of Cardinal Spellman too... But if Pius XII is alive as "Pope Emeritus":eek: he could influence somehow the election of his successor...
 
The last Pope to abdicate did so in 1409. At that time, news traveled slowly and few people were literate. The church had competing leaders (anti-popes) and there were no other Christian faiths competing for followers. (Orthodox is not "competing.")

Fast forward to 1953. An informed and literate world knows how the Catholic church is committed to the authority of a single world leader. A Pope Emeritus might create confusion that each Pope chooses to avoid.
 
Tardini

Siri is too young if that's what you're fantasizing. Also the Right is going to be split between the Spellman faction and the rest. If Pius XII has any influence it will be to get Secretary of State Tardini elected who would be perceived as middle of the road. When Pope John bounced the idea of an ecumenical council off Tardini he was enthusuatic.
 
Maybe it would be a contest between Tardini and Spellman... I still see though Cardinal's Roncalli candidacy as a compromise...
 
The question is who is the Pope Emeritus backing? Spellman or Tardini? Pius' estimation of Spellman was starting to decline (by the time he died it became downright negative) Contributing to this:

1] Pius XII favored an incremental reform of the Roman Rite that would eventually incl. most or all the Mass being vernacularized. Spellman was deeply opposed to this.

2] Pius' opinion of American Catholicism was slipping. He was starting to see American Catholics as superficial and prone to materialism.

3] Rumors of Spellman's homosexuality (supposedly Roy Coen was one of his lovers)

Further complicating Spellman's chances he ran afoul of Ottaviani by lending some support to John Courtney Murray and some controversial Biblical theologian whose name I do not recall. If one fixates only on the Tridentine Rite then Spellman is 100% traditionalist. Not so if one looks at other issues. Actually his own personal liturgy was very weak. One gets the impression he liked to subcontract it often to figures as disparate as Murray, Sheen and dePauw.
 
I bet that Pius XII would support Tardini... He was closer to Pius's mind and ideas...
The Roncalli candidadacy would emerge only if Tardini's and Spellman's groups blocked each other from reaching the 2/3 majority needed...
 
What about Agaraian? The Russian, who was the model for Karil Lokata.
Conservative but good hearted.

Agaganian's election would have piss off the orthodoxs in Russia and Greece... So no chances of interreligious dialogue between them and no lifting of the mutual excommunications...
 
Just a weird thought... Could the new Pope after Pius XII abdication follow Pope Gregory's XII precedent and revert the "Pope Emeritus" to Cardinalatial Status? Is this possible?
 
By allowing the Pope Emeritus to join the Conclave as a Cardinal-elector Pius XII would heavily influence the choice of his successor...
 
By allowing the Pope Emeritus to join the Conclave as a Cardinal-elector Pius XII would heavily influence the choice of his successor...

I was wondering about this. If it happens it would be very ironic because in his last years Pius XII strongly disdained what he perceived to be the prima donna attitude of most cardinals.
 
I was wondering about this. If it happens it would be very ironic because in his last years Pius XII strongly disdained what he perceived to be the prima donna attitude of most cardinals.

Well there is a precedent... In difficult times though but still counts...
In 1415 Pope Gregory XII agreed to abdicate and he was granted by the Council the title of Cardinal-Bishop of Porto and rank right after the Pope...
 
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