Pope: does he cease to be infallible?

[OCLittleFlower]

I don't know if be will return to a cardinal or not. St. Celestine V returned to his hermetic life.

I don't know what happened to the other claimants during the GWS. I know that Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna) refused to step down, but if he did, would he be a cardinal?

Well, I think it's only the title he would retain.  After all, Cardinals over 80 can't vote in a conclave.

[Irenaeus G. Saintonge]

Wouldn't it be more prudent for the Conclave to be meeting now whilst there is still a sitting Pope, so that come Feb. 28th, the new Pope could just take over?  Or is it necessary for there to be an interregnum?

I believe canon law prescribes a certain interregnum period, which in this case is somewhat shortened because it does not include the traditional mourning.

[jovan66102]

St. Celestine V returned to his hermetic life.

Bonaventure, I'm well known as a nitpicker, but I sincerely hope that you meant 'hermit's' or 'eremitic' (the adjectival form of hermit) life and were not implying that Pope St Celestine was an hermetic magician.

[Lateran]

I believe his two Cardinal titles are in use, meaning that they would not be available. There has been prior speculation that a resigned pope would have to be re-created a Cardinal. Most likely he will have to return to his Archbishop title (Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Emeritus) or an unoccupied Titular.

BUT, He his essentially at the mercy of the next Holy Father.

[LongfellowDeeds]

Quick question. What will Joseph/Benedict Ratzinger be called when he is no longer Pope. Will he just go back To Cardinal Ratzinger or something like "former Pope Benedict" This thing confuses the crud out of me.

My understanding is that he will once more be Cardinal Ratzinger.  However, I bet the media will use "former Pope Benedict" because non-Catholics might not recognize his non-papal name.

The Artist Formerly Known as Pope Benedict?

[OCLittleFlower]

Quick question. What will Joseph/Benedict Ratzinger be called when he is no longer Pope. Will he just go back To Cardinal Ratzinger or something like "former Pope Benedict" This thing confuses the crud out of me.

My understanding is that he will once more be Cardinal Ratzinger.  However, I bet the media will use "former Pope Benedict" because non-Catholics might not recognize his non-papal name.

The Artist Formerly Known as Pope Benedict?

More like the writer...

[voxxpopulisuxx]

I dont know why you would let a protestant question your catholic faith at considering the bizaroo BS they belive...anyway you need only direct your bible banging friend to the passage where Christ tells folks to go to the pharasseees who "hold the seat of Moses" meaning it is the OFFICE that is under the charism of infallablility.
http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/download/mp3/apostolic_authority_and_the_pope.mp3

[EcceQuamBonum]

Yes but the last time a (Gregory XII) pope stepped down, they did not elect a new pope until after he died.

It's going to feel weird a former pope roaming around while a new pope reigns.

Let's see how this goes down.

Not exactly "roaming around," though.  (Rome-ing around?  LAWL.)  It seems that he has every intention of remaining cloistered within his new private residence and not doing much by way of interfering.  He's not even going to participate in the Conclave.  It doesn't even sound as though he wants a public role of any kind.  So, it seems that he would just as much prefer things move on so that he can live out his final years in peace.

[jovan66102]

Yes but the last time a (Gregory XII) pope stepped down, they did not elect a new pope until after he died.

Which, of course, was not the case when St Celestine V renounced the Papacy.