Papal Infallibility after Retirement

[ConHusker]

I had a Methodist friend ask me yesterday: When Pope Benedict renounces the chair of St. Peter, will he retain his infallibility? Obviously the office of Pope will not lose it, but will he himself have fallibility once again as Cardinal Ratzinger?

Thanks!

 

[1ke]

I had a Methodist friend ask me yesterday: When Pope Benedict renounces the chair of St. Peter, will he retain his infallibility? Obviously the office of Pope will not lose it, but will he himself have fallibility once again as Cardinal Ratzinger?

Thanks!

When he is no longer Pope, he will no longer be able to speak “ex cathedra” (from the chair) because he does not occupy the chair.

Infallibility when speaking ex cathedra is a charism of the office of the Pope.

 

[ConHusker]

Thanks 1ke! I can definitely see that. I am sure to have more questions in the near future!

 

[GEddie]

Thanks 1ke! I can definitely see that. I am sure to have more questions in the near future!

Everybody will, as this is an interregnum unprecedented in modern times.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Can we still call him Pope? I call Pope John Paul II just that and not Karol Wojtyla even though he no longer holds the office.

 

[R_C]

No, unless you mean it as in the Greek “father” In the past, from what I read, it used to be a term that indicated all bishops, until it became a convention to limit its use to the Bishop of Rome.

In fact…I don’t think we can even call him Benedict XVI anymore :sad_yes: Hmm…must…start…thread!

Edit: here it is, Pope’s name.

 

[RocketRM]

No, unless you mean it as in the Greek “father” In the past, from what I read, it used to be a term that indicated all bishops, until it became a convention to limit its use to the Bishop of Rome.

In fact…I don’t think we can even call him Benedict XVI anymore :sad_yes: Hmm…must…start…thread!

Edit: here it is, Pope’s name.

Sounds like His Holiness will be known going forward as:

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Bishop of Rome, emeritus

(source: Greg Burke, Vatican’s senior communications adviser).

EDIT: Oh, just saw your other link… posted the same info over there also