Concerning an SSPX Dossier on Sedevacantism - Novus Ordo Watch

Actually, the theologi<strong>an</strong>s have considered various hypothetical cases <strong>an</strong>d their teachings sufficiently
clarify the situation.
Consider firstly the teaching of St. Robert Bellarmine.
If there were no papal constitution on the election of the Supreme Pontiff; or if by some
ch<strong>an</strong>ce all the electors designated by law, that is, all the Cardinals, perished simult<strong>an</strong>eously,
the right of election would pertain to the neighbouring bishops <strong>an</strong>d the Rom<strong>an</strong> clergy, but
with some dependence on a general council of bishops.
In this proposition, there does not appear to be universal agreement. Some think that,
exclusive of positive law, the right of election would devolve on a Council of Bishops, as
Cajet<strong>an</strong>, tract. De Potestate Papae & Concilii, cap. 13 & 21 & Fr<strong>an</strong>cis Victoria, relect. 2. quest.
2. De potestate Ecclesiae. Others, as Sylvester relates s.v. Excommunicatio, 9. sec. 3, teach
that in that case the right of election pertains to the Rom<strong>an</strong> clergy. But these two opinions
c<strong>an</strong> be reconciled. Without a doubt, the primary authority of election in that case pertains to
a Council of Bishops; since, when the Pontiff dies, there is no higher authority in the Church
th<strong>an</strong> that of a general Council: <strong>an</strong>d if the Pontiff were not the Bishop of Rome, or <strong>an</strong>y other
particular place, but only the general Pastor of the whole Church, it would pertain to the
Bishops either to elect his successor, or to designate the electors: nevertheless, after the
Pontificate of the world was joined to the bishopric of the City [posteaquam unitus est
Pontificatus orbis Episcopatui Urbis], the immediate authority of electing in that case would
have to be permitted by the bishops of the whole world to the neighbouring bishops, <strong>an</strong>d to
the clerics of the Rom<strong>an</strong> Church, which is proved in two ways.
First, because the right of election was tr<strong>an</strong>sferred from all the neighbouring bishops <strong>an</strong>d the
Rom<strong>an</strong> clergy to the Cardinals, who are a certain part of the bishops <strong>an</strong>d clergy of the
Rom<strong>an</strong> Church; therefore, when the Cardinals are lacking, the right of election ought to
return to all the bishops <strong>an</strong>d clergy of the Rom<strong>an</strong> Church.
Second, because this is a most <strong>an</strong>cient custom (as we showed above from Cypri<strong>an</strong>), that the
neighbouring bishops, in the presence of the clergy, should elect both the Bishop of Rome
<strong>an</strong>d others also. And it is unheard of that the Bishops or Archbishops of the whole world
should meet for the election of the Supreme Pontiff, except in a case where it is doubtful
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