Editing Pope-elect Stephen (section)

=== Election to the Papacy and death ===
Zachary died around 15 March 752 (aside from this, he may have died on either on the 12th or 14th of that month). Following his funeral, on the night of 22 March, Stephen was [[papal selection before 1059|unanimously selected]] to become the new [[pope]], settling into the [[Lateran Palace]] in Rome (at that time within the [[Kingdom of the Lombards]]). However, he reportedly felt unwell a day later. He was not legally [[Bishop of Rome]], owing to the [[canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]] of the time, which stated that a pope's [[pontificate]] started upon his consecration.<ref name="AP2012">Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 {{ISBN|978-88-209-8722-0}}), p. 11*</ref>

While ordering household chores from family members, Stephen suffered a [[stroke]] on 25 March. He succumbed to the effects of the stroke the following day, still at the Lateran Palace, on 26 March; thus, Stephen died before his official consecration as Bishop of Rome and [[Papal coronation|coronation]].<ref name="CE">{{cite web| url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14288b.htm| title = Horace Mann, "Pope Stephen II" in ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 2013)}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=4-R8SSzKLewC&pg=PA13 History's great untold stories: larger than life characters & dramatic ...] By Joseph Cummins. National Geographic Books. p. 13.</ref> He was succeeded by [[Pope Stephen II|Stephen II]] the next day, who reigned until 757. Stephen II is legally acknowledged as Zachary's rightful successor by the Catholic Church. 

Following his own funeral, Stephen was buried in the atrium of the [[Old St. Peter's Basilica]]; however, his tomb was destroyed and subsequently lost during its demolition.