The third and most controversial loss of the papacy is that of deposition. There are no articles of impeachment in the present law of the church. Tradition, however, reveals that notorious and public heresy are sufficient grounds to deprive a pope of his jurisdiction.

• But if the pope has supreme power and if "the First See is judged by no one" (Canon 1404), then who carries out the deposition?

Some theologians (John of Torquemada and Bellarmine) held for "ipso facto" or divine deposition. For them, an heretical or schismatic pope has, in fact, already separated himself from the church and is no longer a member.

Others (Cajetan and Suarez) argued that papal authority does not cease automatically because of heresy or schism but only after the church through the bishops have established the pope's guilt. This does not mean that a general council is superior to the pope: its judgment in this matter does not cause the deposition but merely confirms it.

Komonchak, Joseph A., Mary Collins, and Dermot A. Lane, The New Dictionary of Theology (Michael Glazier, Second printing: September 30, 1987)

No canonical provisions exist regulating the authority of the College of Cardinals sede Romanâ impeditâ, i.e. in case the pope became insane, or personally a heretic; in such cases it would be necessary to consult the dictates of right reason and the teachings of history.

Sägmüller, Johannes Baptist, "Cardinal," ed. by Charles G. Herbermann, Edward A. Pace, Condé B. Pallen, Thomas J. Shahan, and John J. Wynne, The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church (New York: The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1907–1913)

In the last years of John's pontificate there arose a dogmatic conflict about the Beatific Vision, which was brought on by himself, and which his enemies made use of to discredit him. Before his elevation to the Holy See, he had written a work on this question, in which he stated that the souls of the blessed departed do not see God until after the Last Judgment.

After becoming pope, he advanced the same teaching in his sermons. In this he met with strong opposition. Many theologians, who adhered to the usual opinion that the blessed departed did see God before the Resurrection of the Body and the Last Judgment, called his view heretical. A great commotion was aroused in the University of Paris when the General of the Minorites and a Dominican tried to disseminate there the pope's view. Pope John wrote to King Philip IV on the matter (November, 1333), and emphasized the fact that, as long as the Holy See had not given a decision, the theologians enjoyed perfect freedom in this matter. In December, 1333, the theologians at Paris, after a consultation on the question, decided in favour of the doctrine that the souls of the blessed departed saw God immediately after death or after their complete purification; at the same time they pointed out that the pope had given no decision on this question but only advanced his personal opinion, and now petitioned the pope to confirm their decision. John appointed a commission at Avignon to study the writings of the Fathers, and to discuss further the disputed question. In a consistory held on 3 January, 1334, the pope explicitly declared that he had never meant to teach any of this, contrary to Holy Scripture or the rule of faith and in fact had not intended to give any decision whatever. Before his death he withdrew his former opinion, and declared his belief that souls separated from their bodies enjoyed in Heaven the Beatific Vision.

Kirsch, Johann Peter, "Pope John XXII," ed. by Charles G. Herbermann, Edward A. Pace, Condé B. Pallen, Thomas J. Shahan, and John J. Wynne, The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church (New York: The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1907–1913)