In Case you were Wondering What to Call Benedict XVI

Via the BBC:  Benedict XVI to be known as ‘pope emeritus’

Benedict XVI will be known as "pope emeritus" and will retain the honorific "His Holiness" after he abdicates on Thursday, Vatican official say.

He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Josef Ratzinger.

Other details:

He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings.

He will surrender his gold ring of office, known as the fisherman’s ring, and his personal seal will be destroyed in the same way as when a pope dies.

My favorite bit:

Benedict XVI will also give up wearing his specially-made red leather loafers, instead wearing brown shoes hand made for him by a Mexican craftsman during a brief visit to Mexico last year, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said on Tuesday.

I am guessing that he does not get to continue using the Popemobile, however.

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Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. rodney dill says:

    What? No magic underwear?

  2. rudderpedals says:

    Pope Emeritus Beenapope Brownshoe?

  3. Boyd says:

    Personally, I plan to call him Ex-Benedict.

  4. rodney dill says:

    @Boyd:

    Ex-Benedict

    Doh!

  5. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Boyd: All these years he never once returned even one of my calls, so I’m not calling him ever again.

  6. Moosebreath says:

    Does he still get to shower with Pope-Soap-on-a-Rope?

  7. I was hoping for “Pontifex Minimus”

  8. James in LA says:

    Justice demands his new name be Prisoner #45832 and that he be dressed in white and black stripes.