© Copyright 2007, T. Stanfill Benns (None of what appears below — in whole or in part — may be used without the express and written permission of the author.)

Not many Catholics are aware of the vast experience occupants of the Chair of Peter brought to their office. Below is a brief summary from the papal biographies and the Catholic Encyclopedias of the qualifications held by those who became pope.

To begin with, many of these earlier Popes studied at the feet of the Apostles, their disciples, the Fathers of the Church or those who were ordained and consecrated by them. Secondly, a great many of the nobles listed were members of illustrious (usually Roman) families, with successful and respectable secular careers to commend them. Several Popes had been brought up within the circle of papal life in the Lateran Palace. For the most part we must assume these men also led devout lives, although political intrigue and simony led some who were not religious minded to the papacy. Of course there were the simple clerics of humble birth who led holy lives and brought whatever modest talent they had to the papacy. Fortunately, these men had capable theologians and saintly clerics as advisors and assistants, to help shoulder the burden of their duties. But also among the early clerics elected Pope, many were archdeacons, attached to administrative offices "of great importance and power" (Attwater), administering on behalf of the bishop. Some were archpriests, who assisted the bishop and took his place in public worship. Attwatter describes both archdeacons and archpriests as "the chiefs of local centers of clergy." Most of these men held more than one illustrious position, especially in the second millennia.

And so we find that these Popes before their elections held successive positions such as, monks, abbots, priests and bishops; or scholars, theologians, canon lawyers, cardinals; or Cardinal-deacons, linguists, Church administrators. Most of these men excelled in all fields they put their hand to, and were greatly respected by their peers. We find that a great number were in papal service in some capacity from their teen years or early adulthood, and others were placed in the service of the Vatican as legates, diplomats and ambassadors. Their experience, overall, was extensive and varied; most had attended universities and were highly educated in different subjects. They were, for the most part, men who dealt daily with people from all walks of life and every imaginable social strata. And it was this vast array of talent and experience, leavened with holiness then brought to the Chair of Peter, that made the Church the remarkable institution we remember — the winner of souls to Christ. Even those elected as minor clerics or religious usually weren't just clerics or religious — they were seasoned men often well-versed in both the secular and the spiritual life who by holiness alone, if not also by great learning, carefully steered St. Peter's bark away from the sandbars and shipwreck. It must also be understood that in earlier times, many men attained a certain minor order and remained in that order for their entire lives, never receiving Holy Orders but faithfully serving the Church according to their position in orders and their abilities. The Church does not allow this today; all men in minor orders must intend to proceed to major orders and ordination, although no one can force them to do so if they refuse, (see Woywod-Smith's commentary on Can. 973).

But certainly if a man had persisted for many years in a minor order and lived a holy life — even though he lacked certain theological knowledge — he would qualify for ordination. The main requisite here, as Pope Pius XI taught, is not knowledge but holiness of life. The Pope is addressed as Holy Father; above all those elected Pope, then, should possess this quality in the highest degree possible. It is far more likely that clerics and religious will possess such piety than it is that the laity will attain to it, since clerics are bound by Canon Law to lead a holier life than the laity. It is this quality of holiness in clerics that the Popes insist must exist first and foremost in those who believe they are called to the priesthood, even before confirmation of their vocation and prior to undertaking theological studies. But what if there comes a time such as our own, when neither priests nor laity are holy and the entire process for electing a Pope of any kind is totally skewed? Then we must follow all the Church’s teachings and ecclesiastical laws, the signified will of God, and take the safer course in matters that involve the Sacraments or our eternal salvation.

How many men in the Church’s history were laymen when elected Pope? Pope Leo VIII was the first layman elected Pope. (The Catholic Encyclopedia and one other source reports that in the case of Pope Leo VIII, all the orders received were conferred over a two-day period contrary to the rules of Canon Law, something that was somewhat of a scandal then.) The Encyclopedia and other works report that Benedict VIII was the second layman elected and John XIX, Benedict VIII's brother was the third lay pope to be elected. Some also hold that St. Fabian, elected in the early days of the Church was a layman. These are the only Popes that historians specifically list as laymen. The others are listed as nobles, Romans, Tuscans, Greeks, etc…, According to several papal biographical sources, over half the past Popes were priests, bishops or deacons. The rest, not including the exceptions noted above, were clerics who were in Minor Orders before their election, many of whom already were in the service of the Vatican or had achieved notable accomplishments of some sort in the religious or secular sector.

Out of 258 popes, studies show that perhaps as many as 30 of these (whose history we know something about) were men not especially distinguished by any learning or prior experience, clerical accomplishments or even extraordinary holiness. Three or four were laymen when elected, but were not necessarily inexperienced or uneducated. Ambitious politicians or the Roman nobility unduly influenced others and yet others were public sinners or are remembered only for their weaknesses and/or unremarkable careers. This is only one-eighth or 12 1/2 percent of all the popes who ever reigned. If we include those whose histories are uncertain, let's increase this percentage, say, to 20 percent. It is still a remarkable testimony to the perpetual occupants of Peter’s Chair.

Ecclesiastical experience important


So over half the past Popes were priests, bishops or deacons. The rest, not including the exceptions noted above, were clerics who were in Minor Orders before their election, many of whom already were in the service of the Vatican or had achieved notable accomplishments of some sort in the religious or secular sector. It is this invaluable experience in ecclesiastical matters, combined with holiness and faithful service, which determined their overall worthiness in the eyes of the Church.