Pope, Pope Emeritus, ex-pope, former pope, cardinal, bishop; what is the correct form of address for a former holder of the See of Peter?
Since 2013, various titles for former or allegedly former successors of the Apostle Peter have become increasingly common. These include, most notably, "Pope Emeritus", "ex-Pope", "former Pope", "Cardinal", and "Bishop". Strictly speaking, however, all of these titles were used for only one successor of the Apostle Peter, namely Benedict XV(I). Why was (and is) Benedict addressed in this way, while no other previous pope is addressed in this way? What distinguishes Benedict from all his predecessors and also from his alleged successor?
Most people would now generally argue that, since Benedict was still alive after he supposedly abdicated, a special title was needed to distinguish him from his alleged successor. Officially, and especially within the Church, the title was "Pope Emeritus." In circles far removed from the Church and hostile to the Church, the harsher and more derogatory title "Ex-Pope" prevailed. What both titles have in common is that they still contain the word "Pope." Thus, it was considered that the supposedly abdicated Benedict had actually been the legitimate pope. This also included Benedict wearing papal white until his death and papal red after his death (white and red are both papal colors), like all his predecessors.
However, there were (and are) also many people who despised Pope Benedict, both inside and outside the Church, who insisted and continue to insist that Benedict was no longer Pope in any way. Instead, he should be addressed as "Cardinal" or "Bishop," and that he should renounce the papal robes. The argument here was that the papacy was not a separate ordination above the episcopal office, and that the papacy was lost upon the end of the active Petrine ministry, unlike the episcopal dignity, which remains forever. This was intended to avoid the impression that there were two popes, since there were two living men in the Vatican who wore white robes.
Among those who thought that Benedict was a cardinal again and had to give up the papal white, there were again two groups:
The first group were those who believed that Benedict should not wear papal vestments until his death. After his death, however, his body could be wrapped in papal vestments and buried as a pope. Because, they argued, once he was dead, there would be no more confusion about the "two popes." Thus, just like Pius V, Innocent XI, Pius IX, Pius X, and John XXI(II), who wore both papal white (cassock) and papal red (mozzetta) in their glass coffins, his body could be wrapped in papal vestments and buried as a pope who died in office.
The second group are Benedict's greatest haters. They believe that even after his death, Benedict should not be clothed in papal robes, nor should he be buried like a pope, but rather his funeral should be that of a simple cardinal or bishop. The reason for this radical demand is obvious: Benedict and his pontificate should be forgotten. He should be erased from people's memories, his name expunged from the list of popes, and all evidence that he was ever pope removed. This includes removing Benedict's image from the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where all previous popes are immortalized in a mosaic. His entire pontificate should simply be abolished. Nothing should remain of Benedict, as if he had never existed.
Now Bergoglio, who supposedly served as Pope Francis from 2013 to 2025, is dead. Does one now read anything about a "Pope Emeritus Francis," a "Pope Emeritus Francis," an "ex-Pope Francis," a "former Pope Francis," a "Cardinal Bergoglio," or a "Bishop Bergoglio"?
No. You simply won't find any of the previous titles anywhere, not even here on Gloria TV. Bergoglio is still addressed as "Pope Francis," completely unchallenged, as if he were still the reigning pope, even though officially, even on the Holy See's website, the papacy is listed as vacant. So why is Bergoglio still addressed as "Pope"?
Some would now argue that these aforementioned designations are unnecessary for Bergoglio, since Bergoglio is dead and there will be no confusion about "two popes" in the future once the next pope has been elected. Thus, a distinction is only necessary for living former holders of the Petrine office.
However, even after his death, Benedict continued to be referred to as "Pope Emeritus," "ex-Pope," "former Pope," "Cardinal," or "Bishop"—both in and outside the Church. Even during his own Requiem, the celebrant, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, addressed Benedict as "Papa Emerito," although a distinction from his then-surviving alleged successor, Francis, was no longer necessary.
Why this clearly different treatment of Benedict and Bergoglio, both within the Church and outside and hostile to the Church?
Answer:
Bergoglio is a favorite of the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS, both within and outside the Church. For them, Bergoglio is still Pope, even though he has officially stepped down from the papacy and the See of Peter is officially vacant. In Bergoglio's case, the papacy seems to be an imperishable sacrament once again, a sacramental office above the episcopal office. Bergoglio is still addressed as "Pope Francis" to express that Bergoglio and his "teachings" remain significant and guiding for the future. It is a virtual canonization by the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS. Benedict, on the other hand, according to the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS, never existed. Thus, Benedict's entire pontificate is meaningless for the future, since it is a pontificate that allegedly never existed.
Why is Bergoglio a favorite of the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS?
Answer:
Obviously, because Bergoglio worked against the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS. He obscured the faith by desecrating the liturgy, disparaging the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, laughing at and ridiculing faithful Catholics, making ambiguous and heretical doctrinal statements, awarding high papal decorations to abortion advocates, and bringing the Pachamama cult into the Vatican.
The world ruled by Satan loves its own kind. That is why it loves Bergoglio while despising Benedict. Benedict is thus proven to be a true servant of the LORD, while Bergoglio has been exposed as a servant of the devil. In France, the Eiffel Tower was darkened after Bergoglio's death, but nothing of the sort happened after Benedict's death. In the USA, the flag was flown at half-mast nationwide after Bergoglio's death, but nothing of the sort happened for Benedict. There are countless other examples of the worldwide anti-Christian veneration and bowing down to the servant of Satan, Bergoglio, by the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS. Benedict, on the other hand, is despised by the wicked world, just as his LORD JESUS CHRISTUS is despised by the wicked world. This contempt of Benedict by evil is a great sign of holiness before the LORD. Although Benedict was not perfect, like all people, including the saints, with the exception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the LORD JESUS CHRISTUS, who was perfectly and completely pure and is with GOD, Benedict is nevertheless a true and faithful servant of GOD. His pontificate will be honored by true Catholics.
As for the question posed in the title, it cannot be answered here. The correct form of address for a former holder of the See of Peter is not established in canon law, which represents a real gap in canon law. This gap should be closed promptly.
Whatever the official designation for former holders of the See of Peter, it must be uniform and apply to all, whether good or bad popes, holy or unholy popes, or popes who died in office or who abdicated. Every legitimate former pope deserves the same designation.
Finally, a prayer for a truly Catholic new Pope:
LORD our GOD, through YOUR beloved SON JESUS CHRISTUS, YOU founded the Catholic Church by instituting the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, ordaining the Apostles as bishops, and entrusting the keys of the Church to Peter. Grant the cardinals the power of the HOLY SPIRIT so that they may elect as Pope the one who will honor YOU and YOUR commandments, defend the Church and its traditions, and proclaim the Gospel to humanity, unafraid of slander by the forces of evil.
Per DOMINUM nostrum JESUM CHRISTUM, FILIUM TUUM, QUI TEcum vivit et regnat in unitate SPIRITUS SANCTI DEUS: per omnia saecula saeculorum.
Amen