The idea of a Pope having been Orthodox hinges on the complex history of the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the historical context of the early Church.
Key Points to Consider:
Schism of 1054: The Great Schism between the Roman Catholic Church (based in Rome) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (based in Constantinople) formally occurred in 1054. Before this, the Church was considered more or less unified, though there were growing theological, cultural, and political tensions.
Early Church Unity: Before the Schism, the Church was broadly understood as "one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church," with regional differences in practice and theology but no formal division. The titles "Pope" (in Rome) and "Patriarch" (in Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem) were used, but the Roman Pope was considered the "first among equals" in the early Church.
Historical Popes and Orthodoxy: If you're referring to a Pope before the Schism (e.g., any Pope prior to 1054), it wouldn't be accurate to call him "Orthodox" in the modern sense, as the distinction between "Catholic" and "Orthodox" didn't exist yet. However, some early Popes, such as Pope Gregory the Great (590–604), are venerated as saints in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
Hypothetical Scenario: If you're imagining a Pope who was explicitly aligned with Eastern Orthodoxy after the Schism, this would indeed be unprecedented. The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and the two traditions have remained separate since 1054, with distinct theological, liturgical, and ecclesiastical differences.
Modern Ecumenism: In recent decades, there have been efforts toward reconciliation between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. For example, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople have met and expressed mutual respect and a desire for unity. However, significant theological and historical differences remain.
Referring to a Pope before the Schism, it wouldn't be accurate to call him "Orthodox" in the modern sense, as the division didn't yet exist. If you're imagining a Pope who was explicitly Orthodox after the Schism, this would be historically unprecedented and would require a radical reimagining of the relationship between the two traditions.
