Benedict's privileges in the future?

[YoungTradCath]

No doubt he will receive security and protection, as well as a generous stipend to maintain his image and dignity. But what about titles? Ceremonial? Vestments and clothing? Funeral?

The following is my speculation from the perspective of prudence and likelihood.

Titles
I am not sure. I can see him being called Pope Benedict as a matter of course, regardless of whether he retains this title formally or not. Will he retain this title officially? At the moment of his abdication on Feb. 28, no, he will not, unless he grants it to himself by juridic act before then. Will he immediately revert to being Cardinal Ratzinger? Again, not unless he grants the title to himself by juridic act before then; currently the law does not talk about this.

So technically, immediately at the moment of his abdication/whatever he will be called “Bishop Ratzinger” unless he preemptively deals with this. Not Archbishop, not Cardinal, not Pope Benedict, but Bishop Ratzinger, by virtue of his ontological state which is, of course, bishop. Heck, he won’t even be Bishop-Emeritus of Rome until and unless he is granted it either by himself (which is weird, admittedly) or his Successor.

I am almost certain he will at least be Cardinal Ratzinger, if not by his own act then by that of his Successor. Whether he will retain the personal title of Pope–kind of like how sometimes bishops of dioceses are given the “personal title” of Archbishop–remains unclear. I give it a 50/50 chance. There are pros and cons to both avenues.

Ceremonial
I do not think he will celebrate Papal Mass anymore, if for no reason than to dispel public confusion and for a lack of ministers. I am sure he will be given masters of ceremonies and others for his personal retainer, but I do not think he will celebrate Papal Mass properly anymore. Perhaps he will be given unlimited use of the Papal Altars at the Vatican or something, and an ad-hoc use of some of the ceremonial bits of Papal liturgies when he celebrates publicly. I expect him to retain his Papal coat of arms. I also think he will have some public role on occasion. After all, he will live in the Vatican. Expect to see him at Papal events in the future in a place of honor.

Vestments and clothing
I expect that he will retain at least the Papal cassock/soutane and choir dress. I do not expect that he will retain the papal vestments proper, like the fanon which he has recently revived. Of course, he will still be able to wear the mitre, pectoral cross, gloves, etc., as all bishops are entitled to.

Funeral

I am 100% confident that he will be given a full Papal funeral and burial with the period of mourning, bells tolling and all.

EDIT: I have an idea as to how to differentiate the Pope from the Pope-emeritus. The Pope can have a tiara on his coat of arms. When and if he renounces the Papacy, this can be replaced by the three-layer pope-style mitre of Paul VI. Then, when he dies, the tiara can then be assumed.

 

[Adonia]

He can use Castle Gandolfo every other tuesday. Except in the winter when he can stay there anytime he wants!

I suspect he will return to Germany and live out the remaider of his days writing and praying. God bless you Pope Bennedict!

 

[Christine85]

I read he is entering a cloistered Monastery in Rome…

 

[Melchior_1]

Give him whatever he needs so he can continue writing, and I’ll be happy!

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I suspect that you are mistaken in assuming that he will live at the Vatican.

 

[PJD1987]

I’m wondering if he will continue to write or not. I’m curious only because, anything he writes could be seen as a hazard due to the prospect of two different popes proclaiming potentially different things. Theres always the chance of people choosing to follow one pope or another. That’s one of the main reasons I was lead to believe no popes ever abdicate, because of the very fear of that prospect. So…just kind of thinking out loud here if he will publish any more writing and/or if the new Holy Father would be comfortable with that…?

God bless.

-Paul

 

[Orleans_Attny]

I read he is entering a cloistered Monastery in Rome…

I read this also. And I suspect that a retired Pope will feel the burden to remain out of sight, so a cloistered life makes sense. It’s not as if he can go on a speaking tour or start writing a religious collumn. In fact, I won’t be surprised if he never speaks in public again, never presides over a public mass, and never has another of his writings published until after his death.

Pax,
OA

 

[Orleans_Attny]

I’m wondering if he will continue to write or not. I’m curious only because, anything he writes could be seen as a hazard due to the prospect of two different popes proclaiming potentially different things. Theres always the chance of people choosing to follow one pope or another. That’s one of the main reasons I was lead to believe no popes ever abdicate, because of the very fear of that prospect. So…just kind of thinking out loud here if he will publish any more writing and/or if the new Holy Father would be comfortable with that…?

God bless.

-Paul

Good questions. At least we can probably rest assurd that Pope Benedict will receive better treatment than Pope Celestine V who resigned in 1294 and was imprisoned by his successor out of fear of the two-popes problem.

Pax,
OA

 

[Iron_Donkey]

I read this also. And I suspect that a retired Pope will feel the burden to remain out of sight, so a cloistered life makes sense. It’s not as if he can go on a speaking tour or start writing a religious collumn. In fact, I won’t be surprised if he never speaks in public again, never presides over a public mass, and never has another of his writings published until after his death.

Pax,
OA

This would not surprise me either, but I hope that it doesn’t happen quiet like this.

On the one hand, it makes perfect sense for a retired pope to try to go invisible, as it were, to avoid any strain (even if only imagined) between him and his successor.

On the other, it would be a shame to miss out on what Pope Benedict thinks, even after he is retired. I suppose posthumous publishing (if he continues to write) would work, but even so, his comments are generally insightful and I would like to hear them.

But I think the first hand will win. And probably should, if there’s any risk of making the new pope seem less pope-like.

 

[Regina_Love]

Catholic Radio said he intends to enter a cloistered monistery. He will wright more if the Holy Spirit leads him to. I hope so

 

[odile53]

I’m thinking that when he does any future writing, it will probably be for a scholarly audience, rather than the general public, and I wonder if he will function in a chaplain/spiritual director role in the cloistered monastery, if he truly plans to live there. I believe hearing, not too long ago, that he and his brother still retain title to their family home in Germany, and I would be very surprised if he does not in fact decide to go there for a life of prayer, scholarly reading, and writing. I would assume he would publish as Joseph Ratzinger. I suspect he might retain a Bishop Emeritus title in Rome, but doubt that he would retain a Cardinal title. After all, his age makes him ineligible to participate in the conclave electing his successor.

He is already a prolific writer: I went to the Amazon Kindle Store, planning to purchase some of his writings, and found no less than four pages of titles of his books. I suppose an extensive purchase will have to wait till my next payday—LOL–but I did buy all three of his Jesus of Nazareth works. I don’t see him abandoning his writings unless ordered to do so by the Holy See, and I can’t really visualize that happening. After all, he is very insightful, and I think a new pope would welcome more of those insights. But his pastoral ministry is coming to an end, and I suspect that he will hone his audience to trained theologians and graduate students. After all, that was his pre-Vatican days career, and he has always held annual get togethers for former students and colleagues. And from what I’ve seen of his writings, he probably has a couple of more books already in progress. I suspect those writings will be “must reads” in seminaries around the world.

I can’t dismiss the possibility that he may be assigned a specific ministry by the next pontiff, one that would not require onerous hours or travel. Most popes are smart men, and I can easily see the next pope at least picking his brain for his talent. Good leaders surround themselves with good advisors, and I doubt the next pope would let all that talent go unused.

This is, of course, only my speculation by thinking it through a little, while following his papacy in the Catholic media. I wish him a happy, peaceful, joyful, and spiritually productive retirement. And actually, as I myself face a few health issues, his example was an object lesson to me in discerning my next career move.

 

[JReducation]

When his papacy is over on February 28, Pope Benedict XVI ceases to exist and becomes part of the history of the Church. He will again return to being Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

However, he retains the title of Bishop Emeritus of Rome, a title which has not been used yet, because the previous popes who resigned, one went on to become bishop of another diocese and Celestine not long after his abdication.

As to his dress, he re returns to the black cassock of a cardinal and choir dress or a white cassock in hot weather with the red zuchetto and sash as to other cardinals in the tropics. This is rarely worn in the Northern Hemisphere.

It would be inappropriate to call him Holy Father. That title is reserved for the Bishop of Rome and certain Orthodox Patriarchs. Cardinal Ratzinger will not be the ordinary of Rome.

It has been confirmed that h will not be returning to Germany. Instead, he will live in Vatican City in a monastery that Bl. John Paul had built in 1993 for cloistered nuns. The monastery has been undergoing some updating since the Fall. No one knows whether the nuns are returning or not. The building quite large for one man and his small staff. It houses 15 people.

After thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that this is a very prudent choice. Imagine the former pope back home in Germany. Would the man ever have peace and privacy? There there is security issue. He would be a target for kidnapping. Even though he’s no longer the pope, he retains the respect of the world at the former pope. If he leaves Vatican City, will he enjoy the security that he now enjoys, guards and police everywhere? I would highly doubt it. Besides this, if his intention is to spend the rest of his life writing, the resources in Rome are superior to those in hi hometown.

 

[YoungTradCath]

When his papacy is over on February 28, Pope Benedict XVI ceases to exist and becomes part of the history of the Church. He will again return to being Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

As to his dress, he re returns to the black cassock of a cardinal and choir dress or a white cassock in hot weather with the red zuchetto and sash as to other cardinals in the tropics. This is rarely worn in the Northern Hemisphere.

It would be inappropriate to call him Holy Father. That title is reserved for the Bishop of Rome and certain Orthodox Patriarchs. Cardinal Ratzinger will not be the ordinary of Rome.

I do not see how he can legally return to the title of cardinal without an intervention on behalf of himself before the moment of resignation or an intervention of his Successor. Cardinal is a title, and he can’t “go back” to it unless there is a legal path for that, if I’m not mistaken. So, unless something happens legally, he will revert to “Bishop Ratzinger” automatically. Besides, I don’t think most Catholics could bring themselves to call him that again (although I’m not saying it wouldn’t be correct).

 

[pnewton]

Cardinal is a title, and he can’t “go back” to it unless there is a legal path for that, if I’m not mistaken.

I keep hearing this, and the opposite, but have seen nothing but conjecture on the subject. No one has quoted Canon Law. I wonder if there is any rule to apply to such a unique, but probably not the last, occurance.

 

[VivienneJ]

When his papacy is over on February 28, Pope Benedict XVI ceases to exist and becomes part of the history of the Church. He will again return to being Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
…

Besides this, if his intention is to spend the rest of his life writing, the resources in Rome are superior to those in hi hometown.

Thank you Brother JR - I’ve been hoping to find your wise words in relation to all the speculation surrounding the resignation of Pope Benedict. (Not meaning to discount many others who have also made wise comments here and elsewhere, but I do find that Brother JR usually has factually and well expressed posts that I can relate to.)

 

[ringil]

I wonder why he can’t continue to be known as Benedict? It doesn’t seem that this name is part and parcel with the Papacy. It seems like a name one takes on when entering a religious order and keeps for the rest of their life.

 

[MarkThompson]

No doubt he will receive security and protection, as well as a generous stipend to maintain his image and dignity. But what about titles? Ceremonial? Vestments and clothing? Funeral?

…

Funeral

I am 100% confident that he will be given a full Papal funeral and burial with the period of mourning, bells tolling and all.

EDIT: I have an idea as to how to differentiate the Pope from the Pope-emeritus. The Pope can have a tiara on his coat of arms. When and if he renounces the Papacy, this can be replaced by the three-layer pope-style mitre of Paul VI. Then, when he dies, the tiara can then be assumed.

My thoughts are as follows:

1. If he really wanted to stay pope so badly – preside at papal altars, use papal vestments, bear papal arms, etc., he probably would not be resigning in the first place.
2. I doubt that any of this will be dealt with by legislation. My expectation is that within the next two weeks we will receive some kind of protocol statement expressing Benedict’s wishes in these respects – which will no doubt be minimal – and that it will be adhered to in the future.
3. I expect that he will revert to the use of cardinalatial red – I’m certain he will not retain the white cassock, papal mozzetta, etc. – but I strongly doubt that he will officially be re-created a cardinal, given a titulus, or anything of the sort. As to whether he will be called “Cardinal Ratzinger,” “Bishop Ratzinger,” or “Archbishop Ratzinger” (a title which I believe he is entitled to retain ad personam from his Munich und Freising days), that will probably be addressed in the protocol statement.
4. We will probably see very little of him for several years (assuming, Deo volente, his continued health), but I expect that he will continue to write. Perhaps the planned encyclical on faith will come out as a book on faith instead.

 

[pnewton]

Perhaps the planned encyclical on faith will come out as a book on faith instead.

Every position has its own advantages. As a former pope, he is more free to write in areas that he speculates but is not certain and thus further dialogue within the Church without his words being given more weight than he wants. He is a theolgian not only by vocation but also by hobby. If he does nothing but pray for us and give us an example of the role in the Church that is played by those who are able to only pray, this too is a gift.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

No doubt he will receive security and protection, as well as a generous stipend to maintain his image and dignity. But what about titles? Ceremonial? Vestments and clothing? Funeral?

The following is my speculation from the perspective of prudence and likelihood.

Titles
I am not sure. I can see him being called Pope Benedict as a matter of course, regardless of whether he retains this title formally or not. Will he retain this title officially? At the moment of his abdication on Feb. 28, no, he will not, unless he grants it to himself by juridic act before then. Will he immediately revert to being Cardinal Ratzinger? Again, not unless he grants the title to himself by juridic act before then; currently the law does not talk about this.

So technically, immediately at the moment of his abdication/whatever he will be called “Bishop Ratzinger” unless he preemptively deals with this. Not Archbishop, not Cardinal, not Pope Benedict, but Bishop Ratzinger, by virtue of his ontological state which is, of course, bishop. Heck, he won’t even be Bishop-Emeritus of Rome until and unless he is granted it either by himself (which is weird, admittedly) or his Successor.

I am almost certain he will at least be Cardinal Ratzinger, if not by his own act then by that of his Successor. Whether he will retain the personal title of Pope–kind of like how sometimes bishops of dioceses are given the “personal title” of Archbishop–remains unclear. I give it a 50/50 chance. There are pros and cons to both avenues.

Ceremonial
I do not think he will celebrate Papal Mass anymore, if for no reason than to dispel public confusion and for a lack of ministers. I am sure he will be given masters of ceremonies and others for his personal retainer, but I do not think he will celebrate Papal Mass properly anymore. Perhaps he will be given unlimited use of the Papal Altars at the Vatican or something, and an ad-hoc use of some of the ceremonial bits of Papal liturgies when he celebrates publicly. I expect him to retain his Papal coat of arms. I also think he will have some public role on occasion. After all, he will live in the Vatican. Expect to see him at Papal events in the future in a place of honor.

Vestments and clothing
I expect that he will retain at least the Papal cassock/soutane and choir dress. I do not expect that he will retain the papal vestments proper, like the fanon which he has recently revived. Of course, he will still be able to wear the mitre, pectoral cross, gloves, etc., as all bishops are entitled to.

Funeral

I am 100% confident that he will be given a full Papal funeral and burial with the period of mourning, bells tolling and all.

EDIT: I have an idea as to how to differentiate the Pope from the Pope-emeritus. The Pope can have a tiara on his coat of arms. When and if he renounces the Papacy, this can be replaced by the three-layer pope-style mitre of Paul VI. Then, when he dies, the tiara can then be assumed.

The Vatican spokesman said he will initially retire to Castel Gandolfo, and then a while later he’ll move into a monastery in the Vatican. I personally strongly suspect he will make no official or, probably, any kind of public appearances *at all *once he is back in Rome. He’ll probably just pray, take it easy in private, and perhaps publish some more theological work under his given name. I don’t think he will have any coat of arms or anything of the kind. At his death - and may God grant that it be very far off - I have no doubt that all the full papal honors, etc. etc. will “kick in” retroactively for his funeral and burial, though.

 

[petronus]

The Vatican spokesman , Fr Frederico Lombardi , has said today that Pope Benedict’s last public action as Pope will be the Eucharist in St Peters on Feb 27th , following which he will take no further part in the running of the Church .

Taking into account all that has been said by the Pope and by Vatican spokesmen the only conclusion I can see is that the retired Pope Benedict intends to live an eremitic life .