Is Ex-Pope Benedict Entitled To A Full Papal Funeral?
I do NOT know. We are in uncharted territory. The previous pope to resign, i.e., Gregory XII, genuinely retired & went into obscurity OUTSIDE of Rome. He did NOT get a papal funeral — & from what I can see, even one due a cardinal.
I do NOT think the ex-pope is entitled to a full papal funeral.
Why?
For the very simple reason that he was NOT a pope when he died. He, by choice, was an EX-POPE.
Yes, he will be buried in St. Peter’s at the Vatican (I am sure (unless he has managed to fanagle it so that he can be buried in Germany)). I have no problem with that. As one who had been pope he is entitled to be buried in St. Peter’s.
But, to afford him a FULL papal funeral, with the 9-days of formal mourning — i.e., novendiales — would be wrong. He is an EX-pope, an the ex- was NOT because he died.
Francis already has enough trouble from this ex-pope. Affording him a full papal funeral will just exacerbate matters.
That is what I think? What do YOU think?
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