View source for Pope-elect Stephen

{{Short description|Roman priest (died 752)}}
{{Pope Stephen ToP Dab|e}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Pope
| honorific_prefix = Pope-elect
| name = Stephen
| predecessor = [[Pope Zachary|Zachary]]
| successor = [[Pope Stephen II|Stephen II]] (as Pope) <br> [[Teobaldo Boccapecci|Celestine II]] (as Pope-elect)
| cardinal = 745
| created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Zachary|Zachary]]
| birth_date = 7th century
| birth_place = [[Rome]], [[Exarchate of Ravenna]]
| death_date = {{death date|752|3|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Lateran Palace|Apostolic Palace of the Lateran]], [[Rome]], [[Duchy of Rome]]
| previous_post = [[Cardinal-priest]] of [[San Crisogono]] (745–752)
| image = 
| other = Stephen
| native_name = Stephanus
| native_name_lang = Latin
| diocese = [[Diocese of Rome|Rome]]
| church = [[Catholic Church]]
| see = [[Holy See]] (elect)
| elected = 23 March 752
| denomination = [[Catholicism]]
| title = [[Bishop of Rome|Bishop-elect of Rome]]
| caption = 
| occupation = Cardinal-priest
| buried = [[Old St. Peter's Basilica]], [[Rome]]
| term = 23 March 752 – 26 March 752
| term_end = 26 March 752
| term_start = 23 March 752
| province = Rome
| residence = [[Lateran Palace|Apostolic Palace of the Lateran]] (as Pope-elect)
| profession = Presbyter
}}

'''Pope-elect Stephen''' ([[Latin]]: ''Stephanus''; 7th century — 26 March 752), before 1961 previously known as '''Pope Stephen II''', was a Roman cardinal-priest and presbyter [[papal selection before 1059|selected]] on 23 March 752 to succeed [[Pope Zachary]]. Because he died before his [[episcopal consecration]], Stephen is merely considered a {{nowrap|pope[[-elect]]}} rather than a legitimate [[pope]].

He is one of two "popes-elect" of the [[Catholic Church]], the other being [[Pope-elect Celestine II]].{{efn|Cardinal [[Teobaldo Boccapecci]] was elected Pope in 1124, taking the name Celestine II; however, he resigned before his consecration due to political infighting and to prevent a schism. He is often acknowledged as "Pope-elect Celestine II".}}

==Life==
Although not much is known surrounding his life, Stephen was born in Rome (then part of the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]]) in the [[Byzantine Empire]] during either the seventh or eighth century. He was baptised into the state religion of [[Christianity]]; later in life, he was ordained as a priest in the [[Diocese of Rome]], serving as a presbyter.

In 745, Stephen was made a [[cardinal-priest]] by [[Pope Zachary]], one of the twenty-two cardinals he created. His [[titular church]] was [[San Crisogono]], where he would serve until 752. 

=== Election to the Papacy and death ===
Zachary died on 15 March 752. Following his funeral, on 23 March, Stephen was [[papal selection before 1059|unanimously selected]] to become the new [[pope]], settling into the [[Lateran Palace|Apostolic Palace of the Lateran]] in [[Rome]] (at that time within the [[Kingdom of the Lombards]]). However, he reportedly felt unwell a day later. He was not legally [[bishop of Rome]], owing to the [[canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]] of the time, which stated that a pope's [[pontificate]] started upon his consecration.<ref name="AP2012">Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 {{ISBN|978-88-209-8722-0}}), p. 11*</ref>

While ordering household chores from family members, Stephen suffered a [[stroke]] on 25 March. He succumbed to its effects the following day, still at the Lateran Palace, on 26 March; thus, Stephen died before his official consecration as bishop of Rome and [[Papal coronation|coronation]].<ref name="CE">{{cite web| url = https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14288b.htm| title = Horace Mann, "Pope Stephen II" in ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 2013)}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=4-R8SSzKLewC&pg=PA13 History's great untold stories: larger than life characters & dramatic ...] By Joseph Cummins. National Geographic Books. p. 13.</ref> He was succeeded by [[Pope Stephen II|Stephen II]] the next day, who reigned until 757. Stephen II is legally acknowledged as Zachary's rightful successor by the Catholic Church. 

Following his own funeral, Stephen was buried in the atrium of the [[Old St. Peter's Basilica]]; however, his tomb was destroyed and subsequently lost during its demolition.

=== Legacy ===
Due to his extraordinarily brief tenure (which did not even legally begin), Stephen did not personally have any palpable impact on the Catholic Church. If he is counted a pope, then he carries the shortest term of any pope in history.

Later canon law considered that a man became pope the moment he accepted his election, and Pope-elect Stephen was then [[Ex post facto law|anachronistically]] called Pope Stephen II. The pope currently acknowledged as Pope Stephen II was, in turn, called ''Pope Stephen III'', with all subsequent popes by this name ascending in number.<ref>For example, see Rev. [[Joseph Deharbe]], S.J., ''A Full Catechism of the Catholic Religion'' (translated by Rev. John Fander; 1863), [https://archive.org/stream/AFullCatechismOfTheCatholic#page/n79/mode/2up p. 60]-61.</ref>

His name was removed from the list of popes in the ''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' in 1961. He was originally included in the ''Annuario'' from the sixteenth century onwards.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=M0H-hg07b1kC&pg=PA121 Richard P. McBrien, ''Lives of the Popes''] (Harper Collins 2013 {{ISBN|978-0-06228834-9}}), p. 121</ref> Despite the Catholic Church omitting him from this list, he is often acknowledged by modern historians as a pope.

==See also==
*[[List of 10 shortest-reigning popes|Ten shortest-reigning popes]]
*[[Pope John XX]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Popes}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephen, Pope-elect}}
[[Category:8th-century popes]]
[[Category:Popes]]
[[Category:752 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Place of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Burials at St. Peter's Basilica]]
[[Category:Catholicism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Elected officials who died without taking their seats]]