It is consistently being missed that, if Cardinal Ratzinger dies before Francis, thereby transforming the Benny’s into sedes, that state of affairs does not come to an end for them upon the subsequent/eventual death of Francis:
Since they believe him to be an antipope, and this alleged antipope has appointed many of the Cardinal-electors eligible to vote in the next conclave, they must hold that next conclave invalid.
Consequently, they are locked into sedevacantism in perpetuity, with every future conclave being invalid, and the possibility of restoring the papacy closed.
Their only escape is to humbly acknowledge that, whatever irregularities may have existed in the resignation of BXVI, Francis is pope.
But wait, there’s more!
Even if Cardinal Ratzinger outlived Francis, the Benny’s are only briefly rescued from sedevacantism:
The problem of the (alleged) invalidity of all future conclaves remains:
The Cardinal-electors we’re still appointed by an (alleged) antipope. Therefore, they not being legitimate electors, it is not possible for them to produce a legitimate pope.
The Bennyvacantists are locked into sedevacantism regardless of who dies first, and their only way out is to recognize the legitimacy of Francis’s pontificate.
Topic: Benedict nearing death? (Read 11708 times)