Habemus Prevost…
The Conclave Elects Leo XIV:
Initial Thoughts by Bp. Donald Sanborn
In a livestream broadcast shortly after the election of Robert Prevost as ‘Pope Leo XIV’ on May 8, 2025, His Excellency Bishop Donald J. Sanborn of Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Reading, Pennsylvania, sat down with Stephen Heiner of Roman Catholic Media to discuss the 2025 conclave, the new papal claimant, and the post-Francis era that has now begun:
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In case the embedded video above won’t display, it can be accessed directly on YouTube here.
Full disclosure: Bp. Sanborn is a sedevacantist who holds to the so-called ‘material-formal thesis’, also known as ‘sedeprivationism’. In essence, this rather complex and nuanced theory holds that although the papal claimants after Pope Pius XII (r. 1939-1958) — specifically: John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, and now Leo XIV — are not true Popes, they nevertheless, having been elected in conclave, possess a legal designation to the Roman pontificate, and, for this reason, would automatically become Pope if they should renounce their heresies and convert to Catholicism. They are, in a sense, ‘pope-elect’ — legally chosen and designated to be Pope, but unable to actually be Pope because of an obstacle they have voluntarily placed in the way, namely, the intention to change the Catholic Faith by promulgating false doctrines, harmful liturgical rites, and evil disciplinary laws.
In the case of Prevost/Leo XIV, his adherence to and intention to teach the errors of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the entire post-conciliar magisterium vitiate his acceptance of the election. Thus, while legitimately designated to be Pope — according to this thesis — he has not actually received papal authority from Christ and is thus a false pope. If he were to remove this obstacle by repenting and converting to Catholicism, he would automatically become a true Pope since he possesses a lawful designation.
Like any position that is trying to make sense of the post-Pius XII situation for Roman Catholics, the sedeprivationist thesis has advantages and disadvantages. For a more detailed exposition and discussion of this thesis — which Novus Ordo Watch neither endorses nor condemns — please see the following post:
A lot more information about Robert Prevost / ‘Pope’ Leo XIV will be made available on this web site in the next few days.
Image source: YouTube
License: fair use
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