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{{short description|Priest of Rome elected pope in March 752}}{{Pope Stephen ToP Dab|e}}

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|death_place=Rome|previous_post=Cardinal-priest of San Crisogono (745–752)|image=Stephanus II. Stefano II (cropped).jpg|other=Stephen}}Pope-elect Stephen (died 25 March 752) was a Roman priest selected in March 752 to succeed Pope Zachary. Because he died before he was consecrated, he is considered only a {{nowrap|pope-elect}} rather than a legitimate pope.

Election to the Papacy

In 745, Stephen was made a cardinal-priest by Pope Zachary. His titular church was San Crisogono. Zachary died in mid-March 752. On 23 March, Stephen was selected to become the new pope. He died of a stroke only days later, before being consecrated as bishop of Rome.WEB,weblink Horace Mann, "Pope Stephen II" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 2013), History's great untold stories: larger than life characters & dramatic ... By Joseph Cummins. National Geographic Books. p. 13. According to the canon law of the time, a pope's pontificate started upon his consecration.Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 {{ISBN|978-88-209-8722-0}}), p. 11* Later canon law considered that a man became pope the moment he accepted his election, and Pope-elect Stephen was then anachronistically called Pope Stephen II.For example, see Rev. Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Full Catechism of the Catholic Religion (translated by Rev. John Fander; 1863), p. 60-61. His name was removed from the list of popes in the Annuario Pontificio in 1961.Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes (Harper Collins 2013 {{ISBN|978-0-06228834-9}}), p. 121

See also

• List of 10 shortest-reigning popes
• Pope John XX

References

{{reflist}}{{Popes}}{{Authority control}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}