"At the time that Paul IV issued the Bull (quoted below) there were rumors that one of the
cardinals was a secret Protestant. In order to prevent the election of such a heretic to the Papacy,
Pope Paul IV solemnly declared that
a heretic cannot be validly elected pope. Below are the
pertinent portions of the Bull.
Cum ex Apostolatus Officio, Feb. 15, 1559: “1… Remembering also that,
where danger is greater, it must more fully and more diligently be counteracted, We
have been concerned lest false prophets or others, even if they have only secular
jurisdiction, should wretchedly ensnare the souls of the simple, and drag with them into
perdition, destruction and damnation countless peoples committed to their care and rule,
either in spiritual or in temporal matters; and We have been concerned also
lest itmay befall Us to see the abomination of desolation, which
was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, in the holy place. In view
of this, Our desire has been to fulfill our Pastoral duty, insofar as, with the help of God,
We are able, so as to arrest the foxes who are occupying themselves in the destruction of
the vineyard of the Lord and to keep the wolves from the sheepfolds, lest We seem to be
dumb watchdogs that cannot bark and lest We perish with the wicked husbandman and
be compared with the hireling…
6. In addition, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact,
determine, decree and define:-]
that if ever at any time it shall appear that any Bishop,even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any Cardinal of the
aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned, any legate, or even the
Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff,
has deviated from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy:
(i)
the promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by theunanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless;
(ii) it shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that it has thus
acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of consecration, of subsequent
authority, nor through possession of administration, nor through the putative
enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or Veneration, or obedience accorded to such by all,
nor through the lapse of any period of time in the foregoing situation;
(iii) it shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way…
(vi) those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived automatically, and without need
for any further declaration, of all dignity, position, honour, title, authority, office and
power…
10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this document of our approbation, reintroduction,
sanction, statute and derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash
presumption contradict it. If anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him
know that he is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles,
Peter and Paul.
Given in Rome at Saint Peter's in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th
February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate.
+ I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church…”
