What will happen if Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies?

The Vatican has detailed rituals and procedures to follow when a pope dies, but has not published those rules for a pope emeritus. As a result, the official news on Wednesday that Benedict XVI’s health had deteriorated has raised questions about what will happen when the time comes.

So far the Vatican has not announced next steps. The only certainty is that the most important ritual following the death of a pope, a conclave to elect a new one, will not apply.

Pope Francis raised the alarm about the health of 95-year-old Benedict XVI when during his Wednesday general audience he asked for a special prayer for his predecessor, saying the pope emeritus was “very sick”.

Francis then visited the 95-year-old Benedict XVI at his home in Vatican City. The spokesman for the Holy See confirmed that the pope emeritus’ health has deteriorated due to his age, but assured that the situation is under control.

“I can confirm that in the last few hours there has been an aggravation, due to his advanced age. The situation is currently under control, followed steadily by the doctors”, said the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.

Observers assume that, when necessary, Benedict XVI’s funeral rites will closely resemble those of the Bishop of Rome: a funeral in St. Peter’s Basilica or in the square, in this case presided over by Francisco -instead of by the dean of the college of cardinals- and buried in the cave below the basilica.

Situation unprecedented for centuries

“The funeral of a pope emeritus is the funeral of the bishop emeritus of Rome,” church historian Alberto Melloni explained.

Although Benedict XVI’s resignation from the papacy almost ten years ago was a historic event and virtually unprecedented in centuries of the history of the Catholic Church, his eventual resignation in the event of his death will not be an entirely new situation. Dioceses around the world have figured out how to properly honor retired bishops.

The volume “Roman Ritual” establishes how liturgical rites should be celebrated, with specific prayers and readings.

However, some adjustments are needed: Since Benedict XVI is a head of state, the funeral will presumably take on greater pomp and official delegations from all over the world will be present.

To honor his pontificate – which lasted eight years, from 2005 to 2013 – his body will probably rest for a few days in the basilica before his funeral, as happened for previous popes.

Few can forget the long lines of pilgrims who came to say goodbye to the now Saint John Paul II when he died in April 2005.

When Benedict XVI announced his retirement in February 2013, he opened up unknown papal territory. From his title, “pope emeritus,” to his decision to keep the white cassock of the papacy, he’s largely created a new playbook for encompassing both the reigning and outgoing popes.

Christopher Bellitto, a history professor at Kean University in New Jersey, said the novelty of Benedict XVI’s extraordinary decision will likely remain for posterity.

His resignation, announced in Latin on February 11, 2013, was a personal decision due to his failing health and not for the pressure of scandals, as announced by the former pontiff in a book of confidences published in 2016.

But the truth is, his pontificate was marred by the 2012 leak of some classified documents (known as “Vatileaks”), orchestrated by his personal butler.

The scandal made it clear that the Roman Curia, the administration of the Holy See, was undermined by a series of intrigues and a lack of financial rigor.

In the latest video of Benedict XVI, released by the Vatican in August on the occasion of the traditional visit of the new cardinals, he is seen thin and weak, with a hearing aid, unable to speak but with lively eyes.

Source: AP and AFP

B. C