What Happens to Benedict now?

JonSnuuu

So what happens to the current pope once he steps down? Will he be known as Cardinal, Bishop, Fr?? Is it like the presidency of a country? That even when you're no longer in office you're still referred to as Mr/Mrs President?

Will he still get a big papal funeral when he dies with thousands of mourners gathered in St. Peters square? Would the new Pope preside over this funeral (could be interesting).

I know this is pretty much unprecedented, especially in modern times but does anyone have any idea what's gonna happen?

Plowman

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tommy2bad

He becomes ExBenedict,

Manach

Given his authorship skills and nature, I'd presume he would dedicate himself to more written works so it would be unlikely he would play an active role beyond that unless asked to.

ResearchWill

What will Pope Benedict be known as once he has stepped down as Pope?
According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Pope Benedict will return to being known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once he has stepped down as pope. He will be addressed as his eminence or Cardinal Ratzinger.


From http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/11/world/europe/pope-resignation-q-and-a/index.html

I know its CNN but only thing I could find so far.

Peregrinus

Plowman wrote: »

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You don't get "consecrated" as a cardinal. Cardinal's a job description, not an order of priesthood.

The primary duty of a cardinal is to assist the pope, and it's therefore had to see how a pope can occupy the office of cardinal. My reading would be that he automatically ceased to be a cardinal when be became pope, and that when his resignation takes effect he will be the bishop emeritus of Rome (and archbishop emeritus of Munich), and correctly addressed as such.

There are media reports that he will be addressed as a cardinal, attributed to the Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales. (Why them, I wonder?) Possibly I'm wrong about him ceasing to be a cardinal. Possibly the expectation is that the next pope will (re)appoint him as a cardinal. if so, it'll be a largely honorary appointment because, being over 80, he won't get to vote in any conclave, and he obviously won't be given any administrative or pastoral duties.

In terms of what he'll do, it's been announced that in the short term he will go and stay in the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, after which he intends to say in a cloistered convent in the Vatican "for a period of prayer and reflection". No longer-term plans have been announced.

I suspect that, as well as establishing the precedent of a pope resigning due to age and infirmity, he'll also want to establish a precedent that ex-popes say and do nothing which could possibly be construed as an attempt to influence, or a comment on, their successor. Partly for that reason, and partly because he is 85 and in failing physical and mental health, I expect that, wherever he lives, he will live very quietly, and keep a very low profile.

martinedwards

Hes 85, and not in great health.

I hope he gets peace to chill, relax, put his feet up and be left alone to do as much or as little as he feels able to do.

and if the new guy (I know, its unlikely to be a woman) as from the other end of things as far as libealism is concerned, I hope they STILL leave him alone and don't go pestering him every 15 minutes to ask what he thinks.

vard

Benedict? More like BeneQUIT! 'MIRITE?!?

Lovely Bloke

tommy2bad wrote: »

He becomes ExBenedict,

This hasn't received enough love.

hinault

The Pope has said that he will seek a life of prayer and contemplation.

I know that the Pope is a great writer and that this avenue of communication will not be available to him once he steps aside from his position.
(it would be unfair as well as unworkable to have an ex-Pope writing books when his successor is in place)

martinedwards

hinault wrote: »

(it would be unfair as well as unworkable to have an ex-Pope writing books when his successor is in place)

disagree.

there are plenty of folks writing books after retirement.

if HE wants to, there will be many people who wiull want to read 'em

ResearchWill

martinedwards wrote: »

disagree.

there are plenty of folks writing books after retirement.

if HE wants to, there will be many people who wiull want to read 'em

The issue is that he is a theologian, one of the most respected conservative RC theologians today. If a reforming or very liberal Pope is elected and Pope Benedict XVI writes a book which is at odds or is perceived to be at odds with the then Pope it could cause problems.

I Heart Internet

Josef Cardinal Ratzinger Emeritus Bishop of Rome

That would be my guess as to his title.

I imagine we will hear very, very little from him as his intelligence and love of his church will tell him that engaging in public debates or being seen to court a following would be damaging to the faithful and unkind (making his job harder) to the new Pope.

I suspect he'll stay in or around the vatican (the monastery in the gardens, as suggested) but I think (and hope) he gets to spend a lot of time with his brother - either in Germany or Rome.

What interests me is - will he ever wear papal white robes again? I would guess not.

Then - a funeral (which hopefully is many years off). I suppose the church won't go far wrong as long as they treat him as an Emeritus Bishop - just as in many other dioceses in the world.

hinault

ResearchWill wrote: »

The issue is that he is a theologian, one of the most respected conservative RC theologians today. If a reforming or very liberal Pope is elected and Pope Benedict XVI writes a book which is at odds or is perceived to be at odds with the then Pope it could cause problems.

Exactly my thoughts.

And fwiw, I don't think Cardinal Ratzinger would wish to be seen to draw any attention to himself at the expense of his successor, following his retirement.

belcampprisoner

they lock him in the vatican,so the new pope can make his mark
i think hec2as pushed out due to his butler revealed
they say he will get 2500 pension