When the Pope Benedict XVI announced in 2013 that he would step down, causing universal shock to the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, it was the first time in more than 600 years that the election of a new pope would not be due to death.
However, the Vatican did not have answers to all the questions that arose from the specific decision of the pope who wanted to resign from his duties instead of continuing them until the end of his life. What would they call him, what privileges would he have, where would he live, should he retire? And if so how much would it be?
Pope Benedict XVI made some of the decisions on his own, while on other issues he consulted with other members of the Vatican to answer all questions. He announced that he would retain his papal name, Benedict, instead of returning to his real name, Joseph Radzinger, he would also retain the title “Your Holiness, Benedict XVI”, while also referring to him as “Honorary Pope “, According to the CBC. However, the typical papal ring, seal and red shoes would no longer be his.
As “Honorary Pope”, Benedict receives pension amounting to 2,500 euros at the beginning of 2021, a sum common to retired bishops (technically the Pope is the bishop of Rome). However, according to the Independent, if Pope Francis decides to make Benedict an Honorary Cardinal, Benedict’s pension would be doubled to 5,000 euros a month.
A not insignificant retirement salary, as he lives without rent in Mater Ecclesiae, a renovated former convent in the Vatican, while the Roman Catholic Church covers all his living expenses, as well as the salary of his personal secretary. The former pope is also covered by the Vatican’s private health care policy, according to the Independent.
Overall, this is a much better retirement plan than the last pope to resign. According to Britannica, when Pope Celestine V announced his resignation in 1294 after just five months in the papacy, his successor, Pope Boniface VIII, worried that Celestine V would be a threat to his “career”. and so he was imprisoned in a castle. Celestine V died shortly after his imprisonment.
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