Sedevacantism ( la, Sedevacantismus) is a doctrinal position within
traditionalist Catholicism
Traditionalist Catholicism is the set of beliefs, practices, customs, traditions, Christian liturgy, liturgical forms, Catholic devotions, devotions, and presentations of Catholic Church, Catholic teaching that existed in the Catholic Church befo ...
,
which holds that the present occupier of the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
is not a
valid pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
due to the pope's espousal of one or more
heresies
Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
and that therefore, for lack of a valid pope, the
See of Rome
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
is vacant.
The term ''sedevacantism'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''
sede vacante
''Sede vacante'' ( in Latin.) is a term for the state of a diocese while without a bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of the bishop's or Pope's authority upon his death or resignation.
Hi ...
'', which means "with the chair
.e._of_the_.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">Bishop_of_Rome.html"_;"title=".e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Romebeing_vacant"._The_phrase_is_commonly_used_to_refer_specifically_to_a_vacancy_of_the_Holy_See_from_the_death,_the_
.html"_;"title="Bishop_of_Rome.html"_;"title=".e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">Bishop_of_Rome.html"_;"title=".e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Romebeing_vacant"._The_phrase_is_commonly_used_to_refer_specifically_to_a_vacancy_of_the_Holy_See_from_the_death,_the_Papal_renunciation">resignation
_
Resignation__is_the_formal_act_of_leaving_or_quitting_one's_office_or_position._A_resignation_can_occur_when_a_person_holding_a_position_gained_by_election_or_appointment_steps_down,_but_leaving_a_position_upon_the_expiration_of_a_term,_or_choos_...
,_the_falling_into_insanity,_or_the_public_heresy_of_a_pope_to_the_Papal_conclave.html" ;"title="Papal_renunciation.html" "title="Bishop_of_Rome.html" ;"title="Bishop_of_Rome.html" ;"title=".e. of the
.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">Bishop_of_Rome.html"_;"title=".e._of_the_Bishop_of_Rome">.e._of_the_Bishop_of_Romebeing_vacant"._The_phrase_is_commonly_used_to_refer_specifically_to_a_vacancy_of_the_Holy_See_from_the_death,_the_Papal_renunciation">resignation
_
Resignation__is_the_formal_act_of_leaving_or_quitting_one's_office_or_position._A_resignation_can_occur_when_a_person_holding_a_position_gained_by_election_or_appointment_steps_down,_but_leaving_a_position_upon_the_expiration_of_a_term,_or_choos_...
,_the_falling_into_insanity,_or_the_public_heresy_of_a_pope_to_the_Papal_conclave">election_of_his_successor.
Among_those_who_maintain_that_the_see_of_Rome,_occupied_by_what_they_declare_to_be_an_illegitimate_pope,_was_really_vacant,_some_have_chosen_an_alternative_pope_of_their_own,_thereby_in_their_view_ending_the_vacancy_of_the_see;_such_are_known_sometimes_as_''conclavism.html" "title="Bishop of Rome">.e. of the Bishop of Rome">Bishop_of_Rome.html" ;"title=".e. of the Bishop of Rome">.e. of the Bishop of Romebeing vacant". The phrase is commonly used to refer specifically to a vacancy of the Holy See from the death, the Papal renunciation">resignation
Resignation is the formal act of leaving or quitting one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or choos ...
, the falling into insanity, or the public heresy of a pope to the Papal conclave">election of his successor.
Among those who maintain that the see of Rome, occupied by what they declare to be an illegitimate pope, was really vacant, some have chosen an alternative pope of their own, thereby in their view ending the vacancy of the see; such are known sometimes as ''conclavism">conclavists