January 31, 2023 (Steven O’Reilly) – Roma Locuta Est has covered the Benepapist controversy from nearly its beginning. Benepapism is the claim that Pope Benedict XVI remained pope until his death in December of 2022, and that his resignation of the papacy in February 2013 was invalid.
We originally coined the term “BiP” as an acronym for the belief that “Benedict is (still) pope“, which has also been called benevacantism or beneplenism by others. However, although these terms have somethings to recommend them, Roma Locuta Est settled on “Benepapism” as the term it would use once it appeared that the end of Benedict XVI was approaching. “Benedict IS pope” did not seem to be a term that would have much longevity as the health of Benedict XVI declined. Thus, Roma Locuta Est switched from the use of BiP to “Benepapism” around April of 2022. The term is not intended to be pejorative.
Roma Locuta Est has compiled a few compilations of articles which have rebutted the Benepapist claims in detail, such as in the Summa contra BiP, the Case Against those who claim Benedict is (still) pope, and the Summa contra Andrea Cionci. These articles take on the spurious Benepapist arguments advanced by the likes of Ann Barnhardt, Mark Docherty, Dr. Edmund Mazza, Estefania Acosta, Andrea Cionci, Patrick Coffin, Br. Alexis Bugnolo, etc.
Seeing that the Benepapists have published something like 7-8 books to date, I decided to adapt the arguments found on Roma Locuta Est into a book form to be an additional resource for those looking to answer Benepapist arguments. To these articles, additional research and arguments were added. For those interested in the case against the Benepapists, please read Valid? The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI which is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback), and as of February 4, 2023, through other book stores and distributors. I am honored to say that his excellency Bishop Athanasius Schneider wrote the Foreword for this book.
Now, having offered a defense of common sense in the form of articles and a book in the face of the nonsense offered up by the Benepapists, Roma Locuta Est will try its amateur hand at a series of videos on the topic. Overall, this new series is entitled Roma Locuta Est Considers, with the first series of videos devoted to the topic of Benepapism. The first video is “Benepapism: Introduction” The initial series will look at the question of the “munus vs. the ministerium” in five parts, Canon 17, and the “Always is also a forever.”
Roma Locuta Est describes itself as the blog “the world little notes, nor will not long remember.” Even so, I hope those who take the time to watch the series will find it helpful. Viewers are encouraged to send comments or questions to the email addresses for me below. Other topics may eventually be covered as well, such as the 2013 conclave, the Crucifixion Darkness, the Resurrection, etc. Again, I hope viewers will find the series helpful.
Steven O’Reilly is a graduate of the University of Dallas and the Georgia Institute of Technology. A former intelligence officer, he and his wife, Margaret, live near Atlanta. He has written apologetic articles, and is author of Book I of the Pia Fidelis trilogy, The Two Kingdoms; and of Valid? The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. (Follow on twitter at @fidelispia for updates). He asks for your prayers for his intentions. He can be contacted at StevenOReilly@AOL.com or StevenOReilly@ProtonMail.com (or follow on Twitter: @S_OReilly_USA or on GETTR, TruthSocial, or Gab: @StevenOReilly).
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