Sedevacantism

Sedevacantism is the term commonly used to denote the belief, held by a minority of Traditionalist Catholics, that some or all of the men generally recognized as Popes since the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958 (Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI) have not truly held the papal office, and have hence been antipopes. The word is derived from the Latin phrase "sede vacante", which means "while the See is vacant" and is used in Vatican documents in the interval between the death or abdication of the Pope and the election of his successor.

Related Topics:
Traditionalist Catholics - Popes - Pope Pius XII - 1958 - Pope John XXIII - Pope Paul VI - Pope John Paul I - Pope John Paul II - Pope Benedict XVI - Antipopes - Sede vacante - Election of his successor

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Strictly speaking, the term "sedevacantist" should be applied only to those who believe that there is at present no valid Pope at all, but it is frequently used more broadly to include those, also known as "conclavists", who have sought to elect "legitimate" pontiffs in opposition to the occupants of the Vatican. Most sedevacantists are strongly opposed to conclavism.

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Some sedevacantists believe that the papacy was occupied until his death in 1989 by Giuseppe Cardinal Siri, who was allegedly elected Pope in 1958 (following the death of Pius XII) or 1963 (following the death of John XXIII) and is said to have taken the name Gregory XVII. While there are claims that the 1958 papal election was indeed initially won by Siri (unsubstantiated, as the details of all conclaves are held in secret under pain of excommunication unless the reigning pope chooses to release them), it is a matter of historical record that the Cardinal subsequently accepted the authority of and served loyally under all the post-1958 pontiffs, and died in full communion with the Church.

Related Topics:
Giuseppe Cardinal Siri - Excommunication

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