{"id":35177,"date":"2018-11-23T14:04:27","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T20:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=35177"},"modified":"2020-11-16T15:35:39","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T21:35:39","slug":"was-pope-franciss-election-invalid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\/","title":{"rendered":"Was Pope Francis&#8217; Election Invalid?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-35178\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"585\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\"><strong>A<\/strong> group of cardinals known as &#8220;St. Gallen&#8217;s mafia&#8221; apparently wanted Jorge Bergoglio elected to advance their modernist agenda. News of this group emerged a few years ago and has led some to continue to allege that the election of Pope Francis is, therefore, invalid.\u00a0<!--more--><\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"18hs0-0-0\">TEN RESPONSES TO THIS ALLEGATION<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>1. Not a single &#8220;conservative&#8221; cardinal, including Cardinals Francis Arinze, Robert Sarah,<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/30\/that-pope-francis-part-ii\/\"><em>That Pope Francis &#8211; Part II<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0or Raymond Burke,<span data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\"><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/28\/barquing-up-the-wrong-tree\/\"><em>Barquing up the Wrong Tree<\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/a><\/span> has even so much as <em>hinted<\/em> that the papal conclave was invalid through the meddling of such a group. On the contrary, they have reaffirmed their allegiance to Pope Francis despite any disagreements they may have.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\">2. Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, of all people, would certainly intervene in some way if he too suspected an anti-pope took his place. But he has consistently reaffirmed his solidarity with Francis and the absolute validity of his resignation.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/28\/barquing-up-the-wrong-tree\/\"><em>Barquing up the Wrong Tree<\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\">\n<div data-offset-key=\"becvr-0-0\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my resignation from the Petrine ministry. The only condition for the validity of my resignation is the complete freedom of my decision. Speculations regarding its validity are simply absurd\u2026 [My] last and final job [is] to support [Pope Francis\u2019] pontificate with prayer. <\/strong>\u2014POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI, Vatican City, Feb. 26th, 2014; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.zenit.org\/en\/articles\/benedict-xvi-says-doubts-on-resignation-are-absurd?utm_campaign=dailyhtml&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=dispatch\">Zenit.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And again, in Benedict\u2019s recent autobiography, papal interviewer Peter Seewald explicitly asks whether the retired Bishop of Rome was the victim of \u2018blackmail and conspiracy.\u2019<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-32098\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/benedictchained-1024x1003.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/benedictchained-1024x1003.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/benedictchained-300x294.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/benedictchained-768x752.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/benedictchained.jpg 1360w\" width=\"297\" height=\"291\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>That\u2019s all complete nonsense. No, it\u2019s actually a straight-forward matter\u2026 no one has tried to blackmail me. If that had been attempted I would not have gone since you are not permitted to leave because you\u2019re under pressure. It\u2019s also not the case that I would have bartered or whatever. On the contrary, the moment had\u2014thanks be to God\u2014a sense of having overcome the difficulties and a mood of peace. A mood in which one really could confidently pass the reins over to the next person.<\/strong> \u2014<i>Benedict XVI, Last Testament in\u00a0His Own Words,\u00a0<\/i>with Peter Seewald; p. 24 (Bloomsbury Publishing)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>So intent are some to dethrone Francis that they are willing to suggest that Pope Benedict is simply lying here\u2014a virtual prisoner in the Vatican. That rather than lay down his life for the truth and Christ\u2019s Church, Benedict would prefer to either save his own hide, or at best, protect some secret that would do more damage. But if that were the case, the aged Pope Emeritus would be in grave sin, not only for lying, but for publicly supporting a man whom he <em>knows\u00a0<\/em>to be an antipope. On the contrary, Pope Benedict was very clear in his last General Audience when he resigned the office:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>I no longer bear the power of office for the governance of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, in the enclosure of Saint Peter.<\/strong> \u2014February 27th, 2013; <a href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/audiences\/2013\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20130227.html\">vatican.va<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"8lc5v-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8lc5v-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8lc5v-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"4386r-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"4386r-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"4386r-0-0\">3. The cardinals who participate in a papal conclave take an oath of secrecy under pain of excommunication. No one knows what took place there (or at least should not). So how anyone has \u201cinside\u201d information that the conclave broke rules is, in my opinion, nothing short of reckless speculation.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"609ep-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"609ep-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"609ep-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"6sbp6-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"6sbp6-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"6sbp6-0-0\">4. It doesn\u2019t matter if the devil himself pushed forward Jorge Bergoglio as &#8220;his candidate.&#8221; Once the new pontiff has been raised to the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/22\/the-chair-of-rock\/\"> Chair of Peter<\/a>, he alone holds the keys of the Kingdom and falls under Christ\u2019s Petrine promises. That is, Christ is stronger than Satan and can make all things work to the good. Nothing is impossible for God\u2014despite the &#8220;personal whims&#8221; a pope may or may not have.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"8sv8m-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8sv8m-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8sv8m-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"3eatu-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"3eatu-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3eatu-0-0\">5. The rumour that the \u201cSt. Gallen group\u201d or \u201cmafia\u201d (as some of them called themselves) lobbied for Francis in an unlawful manner before the conclave, was clarified by the biographers of Cardinal Godfried Danneels (one of the group\u2019s members) who initially implied this. Rather, they said, the \u201celection of Bergoglio corresponded with the aims of St. Gallen, on that there is no doubt. And the outline of its program was that of Danneels and his confreres who had been <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-35180\" style=\"margin: 2px 5px 2px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"358\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolves-woods.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 358px) 100vw, 358px\" \/>discussing it for ten years.\u201d<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncregister.com\/blog\/edward-pentin\/cardinal-danneels-part-of-mafia-club-opposed-to-benedict-xvi\">ncregister.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> (Undoubtedly many cardinals felt that the election of John Paul II or Benedict XVI also corresponded to their aims). The St. Gallen group was apparently disbanded after the 2005 conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the papacy. While the St. Gallen&#8217;s group was apparently known to oppose Ratzinger&#8217;s election, Cardinal Danneels later openly praised Pope Benedict for his leadership and theology.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_5');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_5');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[5]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_5\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncregister.com\/blog\/edward-pentin\/cardinal-danneels-part-of-mafia-club-opposed-to-benedict-xvi\">ncregister.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"bq8p3-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bq8p3-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"bq8p3-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"3dmf0-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"3dmf0-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3dmf0-0-0\">6. It is very, very dangerous for Catholics to begin sowing this kind of doubt in the legitimacy of the papacy. It would be one thing for cardinals themselves to come forward and alert the faithful that the election was not valid, which would be their duty\u2026 it\u2019s another thing for laity or religious to propagate these kind of allegations, which can only harm the unity of the Church and undermine the confidence of those with a weak faith. &#8220;Do not eat meat if it causes your brother to sin,&#8221; exhorted St. Paul.\u00a0<em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"10th-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"10th-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"6kcj1-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"6kcj1-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"6kcj1-0-0\">7. Even if this small group desired a certain man to be elected, there were 115 cardinals who voted that day, far outnumbering the handful of those who loosely formed this &#8220;mafia.&#8221; To suggest that these other cardinals were haplessly influenced like impressionable children without a mind of their own, is insulting to there intelligence and a judgement of their faithfulness to Christ and His Church.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"21tju-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"21tju-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"21tju-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\">8. If the St. Gallen&#8217;s group wanted a reformer, they are likely disappointed that Pope Francis has faithfully transmitted every moral doctrine of the Church thus far (see <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/24\/pope-francis-on\/\">Pope Francis On&#8230;<\/a><\/em>). In fact, as pointed out in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/19\/the-five-corrections\/\">The Five Corrections<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Pope Francis did not mince words for those with the St. Gallen mindset, calling them &#8220;liberals&#8221; and &#8220;progressives&#8221; by name, adding:<\/span><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>The Pope, in this context, is not the supreme lord but rather the supreme servant \u2013 the \u201cservant of the servants of God\u201d; the guarantor of the obedience and the conformity of the Church to the will of God, to the Gospel of Christ, and to the Tradition of the Church, <em>putting aside every personal whim<\/em>, despite being \u2013 by the will of Christ Himself \u2013 the \u201csupreme Pastor and Teacher of all the faithful\u201d and despite enjoying \u201csupreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church\u201d.<\/strong> \u2014POPE FRANCIS, closing remarks on the Synod;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-francis-closing-synod-speech-received-with-standing-ovation-92979\/\"><em>Catholic News Agency<\/em><\/a>, October 18th, 2014 (my emphasis)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"1t01e-0-0\">That is, their alleged \u201cplot\u201d has seemingly failed for any meaningful &#8220;reform&#8221;\u2014though clearly an anti-Gospel agenda is trying to force its way through, as two synods have now revealed. That is not to say that Francis&#8217; pastoral approach is <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-35179\" style=\"margin: 1px 2px 1px 2px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard-1024x855.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"345\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard-1024x855.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard-1536x1282.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard-768x641.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/wolfcard.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px\" \/>not controversial or may not warrant just criticism. What is true is that those with a liberal agenda are coming out of the woodwork, and this I would argue, is a good thing. It is better to know who the wolves are than for them to remain under the cover of bureaucratic woods.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"fgsql-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"fgsql-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fgsql-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5l6is\" data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">9. As Christians of faith, we cannot act as if Francis holds a political position in the Church. It is a <em>divinely<\/em> appointed office, and therefore, Christ Himself remains the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/09\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/\">chief governor and builder<\/a> of the Church. It is a sign of poor catechesis or a lack of faith when we act as if Jesus Christ is suddenly powerless over the direction of Peter&#8217;s Barque. As I\u2019ve said before, the Lord could call Francis home this very night or appear to him in a vision\u2014if He deemed that the man was going to destroy the very foundations of the Church. No man will be permitted to do this, however. <em>Not\u00a0even the gates of hell will prevail against the Church<\/em>. Once the successor of Peter holds the keys of the Kingdom, he too becomes \u201crock\u201d in Peter\u2019s place\u2014despite the shortcomings and sinful nature of the man himself.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><b>The post-Pentecost Peter\u2026 is that same Peter who, for fear of the Jews, belied his Christian freedom <\/b>(Galatians 2 11\u201314)<b>; he is at once a rock and a stumbling-block. And has it not been thus throughout the history of the Church that the Pope, the successor of Peter, has been at once <em>Petra\u00a0<\/em>and <i>Skandalon<\/i>\u2014both the rock of God and a stumbling block?<\/b> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XIV, from <i>Das neue Volk Gottes<\/i>, p. 80ff<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">10. As apologist Tim Staples points out regarding such unwarranted suspicions, &#8216;once the \u201cfrenzy\u201d begins against the pope, you inevitably find people who join in the fray reading the pope (or any other \u201ctarget\u201d) with an end in mind to <em>expose\u00a0<\/em><em>the evil <\/em>and to\u00a0<em>protect God\u2019s people\u00a0<\/em>from the evil that is Pope Francis\u2019s teaching. And this becomes extremely unhealthy, to say the least.'<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_6');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_35177_1('footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_6');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[6]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_6\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/timstaples.com\/blog\/defending-pope-francis-pt-4-not-another-footnote\">timstaples.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_35177_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> I call it a &#8220;hermeneutic of suspicion&#8221; that begins to view\u00a0<i>everything\u00a0<\/i>the Pope does as under-handed and duplicitous or everything he says as fork-tongued casuistry.<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">Thus, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn&#8217;t&#8230; and Satan begins to win an extraordinary victory whereby the &#8220;perpetual sign of unity&#8221; of the papacy is totally undermined, and God&#8217;s people begin to turn on one another\u2014also, like wolves.\u00a0<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">RELATED READING<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\" data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onepeterfive.com\/benevacantists\/?fbclid=IwAR3BjAbUzBLFXPXQZER5MNQ0gzf1zia0vWwPDy150wLpZws34QdGYzlPqtE\">&#8220;Rise of the Benevacantists: Who is Pope?&#8221;<\/a> <\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ad0eh-0-0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><b>The Now Word is a full-time ministry that<br \/>\ncontinues by your support. <br \/>\nBless you, and thank you.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/donations\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Donateovalbtnonbeige.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">To journey with Mark in\u00a0<strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Now Word<\/strong><\/em>,<em><br \/>\n<\/em>click on the banner below to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\">subscribe<\/a>. <br \/>\nYour email will not be shared with anyone.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-25916\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner-300x98.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner-768x250.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_35177_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_35177_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_35177_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_35177_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/30\/that-pope-francis-part-ii\/\"><em>That Pope Francis &#8211; Part II<\/em><\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/28\/barquing-up-the-wrong-tree\/\"><em>Barquing up the Wrong Tree<\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_3');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/28\/barquing-up-the-wrong-tree\/\"><em>Barquing up the Wrong Tree<\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_4');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncregister.com\/blog\/edward-pentin\/cardinal-danneels-part-of-mafia-club-opposed-to-benedict-xvi\">ncregister.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_5');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>5<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncregister.com\/blog\/edward-pentin\/cardinal-danneels-part-of-mafia-club-opposed-to-benedict-xvi\">ncregister.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_35177_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_35177_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_35177_1_6');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>6<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"http:\/\/timstaples.com\/blog\/defending-pope-francis-pt-4-not-another-footnote\">timstaples.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_35177_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_35177_1').show(); 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jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; A group of cardinals known as &#8220;St. Gallen&#8217;s mafia&#8221; apparently wanted Jorge Bergoglio elected to advance their modernist agenda. News of this group emerged a few years ago and has led some to continue to allege that the election of Pope Francis is, therefore, invalid.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-journal","category-faith-and-morals"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Was Pope Francis&#039; Election Invalid? - The Now Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Was Pope Francis&#039; Election Invalid? - The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; A group of cardinals known as &#8220;St. Gallen&#8217;s mafia&#8221; apparently wanted Jorge Bergoglio elected to advance their modernist agenda. News of this group emerged a few years ago and has led some to continue to allege that the election of Pope Francis is, therefore, invalid.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-11-23T20:04:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-11-16T21:35:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mark\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"headline\":\"Was Pope Francis&#8217; Election Invalid?\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-11-23T20:04:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-16T21:35:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1604,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/pope-francis-on-the-balcony.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"HOME\",\"FAITH AND MORALS\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/was-pope-franciss-election-invalid\\\/\",\"name\":\"Was Pope Francis' Election Invalid? 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