text: is it possible in the next coming years or days, the next pope will not come from the college of cardinals?tnx can the pope not be chosen among the cardinals or princes of the roman catholic church? why dont we allow that the pope be chosen by the catholic bishops conferences as a whole body of each country...??? any baptized male catholic can be elected pope. being single is not a requirement. although the chances of a non-cardinal being elected if very small.  if the person elected is not yet a bishop, then he is ordained a bishop before accepting the office of the papacy.   theoretically we could have a married pope before we have married priests.  with love in christ.