a Roman priest To preserve apostolic succession he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.
In early times, who was generally electied to cardinal? Why did the ceromony of consecrating a bishop have to be preformed by someone who was already a bishop? What is the rule if the peson elected is not a bishop? What happens if a Pope is elected who is not a bishop?
In early times, the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the cardinals, and for centuries the person elected was customarily a Roman priest and never a bishop from elsewhere. To preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating him a bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a bishop. The rule remains that, if the person elected Pope is not yet a bishop, he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.
question: In early times, who was generally electied to cardinal?, answer: a Roman priest | question: Why did the ceromony of consecrating a bishop have to be preformed by someone who was already a bishop?, answer: To preserve apostolic succession | question: What is the rule if the peson elected is not a bishop?, answer: he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. | question: What happens if a Pope is elected who is not a bishop?, answer: he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.