ABSTRACT: The abdication of Pope Benedict XVI was amongst the most significant events of the modern papacy. Adopting the title "pope emeritus," his new role was represented in various ways, retaining certain elements of papal insignia while setting others aside. That canon law foresees the conferral of "emeritus" status in a general way, but provides no specific legislation governing an emeritus pope, led to much (and varied) commentary. In light of the norms of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis and the 1998 Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis , this article argues that a key to understanding how the Church conceived of the role of pope emeritus exercised by Benedict XVI is the liturgical celebration of his funeral rites.
James Bradley (2026) studied this question.