To Mithrandylan,
It has already been defined that they are licit popes because they were elected in accord with canonical law.
In addition, it has been defined that irrespective of personal character or defect, if they are licit Pontiffs, they are guaranteed by Christ to be infallible when promulgating from the Seat of Peter.
What you appear to be seeking for is some criteria by which we know them to be "catholic popes" as measured by their "catholicity" and you state no one can argue they are catholic popes. On the contrary:
"Before everything else, fidelity to the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. Jesus did not found several churches, but one single Church."
Pope John XXIII "For all of us, the kingdom of Jesus Christ is in Heaven; to enter into it, we need the keys."
Pope John XXIII "The entrance to salvation is open to no one outside the Church!"
Pope Paul VI "As a sacrament of intimate union with God, the Church is in Christ, outside Whom there is no salvation."
Pope John Paul II "The mystery of salvation is revealed to us and is continued and accomplished in the Church...and from this genuine and single source, like 'humble, useful, precious and chaste' water, it reaches the whole world. Dear young people and members of the faithful,
like Brother Francis we have to be conscious and absorb this fundamental and revealed truth, consecrated by tradition: 'There is no salvation outside the Church.' From her alone there flows surely and fully the life-giving force destined in Christ and in His Spirit, to renew the whole of humanity, and therefore directing every human being to become a part of the Mystical Body of Christ."
Pope John Paul II, Radio Message for Franciscan Vigil in St. Peter's and Assisi, October 3, 1981.Q. Is it true that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church?
A. Yes.
Benedict XV1 - interview with journalist Peter Seewald (Book - Light of the World)
“It’s an absurd dichotomy to think one can live with Jesus, but without the Church, to follow Jesus outside the Church, to love Jesus and not the Church”,
Pope Francis 1 (May 2013 - address to plenary assembly of the International Union of Superiors General.)
Incredible at first sight, I would suggest you research the idea that the V2 popes may have had very limited latitude to repair the post V2 damage:
‘Be brave, now…for the Church has already been invaded by Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ!’ ‘Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ has already made it into the loafers (shoes) of the Pope!’ -
St Pio to Fr Luigi Villa 1963http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread576777/pg1During an audience with
Pope Benedict XV1, Bishop Fellay found himself alone with the Pope for a moment. His Excellency seized the opportunity to remind the Pope that he is the Vicar of Christ, possessed of the authority to take immediate measures to end the crisis in the Church on all fronts.
The Pope replied thus: “My authority ends at that door.” (Castel Gondolfo August, 2005)
Don't believe the common opinion - research it yourself!
God bless!