The Society reminds members: everyone is already a Pope. The Pope Ledger is not a list of who is a Pope (that would be the entire planet). It is a list of those who have filed paperwork to that effect — in other words, those who have registered an account at the Discordian Temple. The distinction is bureaucratic. The distinction is also the only distinction.

7 Popes on the rolls. Membership is recorded retroactively. Removal is also retroactive, but in the other direction.