In early times, the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the cardinals, and for centuries the person elected was customarily a Roman priest and never a bishop from elsewhere. To preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating him a bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a bishop. The rule remains that, if the person elected Pope is not yet a bishop, he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. COUNT 4
QSN1 In early times, who was generally electied to cardinal? ANS1 a Roman priest QSN2 Why did the ceromony of consecrating a bishop have to be preformed by someone who was already a bishop? ANS2 To preserve apostolic succession QSN3 What is the rule if the peson elected is not a bishop?  ANS3 he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. QSN4 What happens if a Pope is elected who is not a bishop? ANS4 he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.