Benedict not Pope-emeritus

Jun 03, 2016

By Robert Mickens
The former pope’s personal secretary and housemate, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, recently made the unbelievable claim that Benedict XVI never really abdicated the Petrine Ministry when he resigned, but merely chose to exercise it in a different way. The Catholic Herald’s Rome correspondent, Edward Pentin, explains:

“Speaking at the presentation of a new book on Benedict’s pontificate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome May 20, Archbishop Gänswein also said that Pope Francis and Benedict are not two popes ‘in competition’ with one another, but represent one ‘expanded’ Petrine Office with ‘an active member’ and a ‘contemplative.’

What?

First of all, let’s be clear. There is only one Pope and his name is Francis.

Secondly, Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) is a former pope who should more correctly be called Bishop-emeritus of Rome and not pope-emeritus.

Only the Roman Pontiff is called “pope” in the Catholic Church, and Benedict no longer holds this position.

Then there is the archbishop’s kooky syllogism that Benedict is somehow a “contemplative” member of a two-man team that is currently occupying the Petrine Office. This is yet a further ‘ultramontane’ exaggeration of the true nature of the papacy, which is Bishop of Rome.

When Pope Francis stresses the fact that he is Bishop of Rome, it is not because this is the most humble of his titles, as some people continue to say, incorrectly.

No! It is the most important.

Every other title flows from that, because Rome is considered the primatial see that “presides in charity” over the Catholic Church. And its bishop, as successor of the Apostles Peter and Paul, enjoys special jurisdiction and historical prerogatives of governance over the worldwide flock. --NCR