Roma Locuta Est

Discussion: Benedict XVI’s 2014 Letter vs. the Benepapists

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Last week I was invited on Christine Harrington’s Eternal Life Plan Program again. Our discussion focused on the recent publication of Benedict XVI’s 2014 letter to Msgr. Nicola Bux, and its impact on various Benepapist theories which claim Benedict XVI’s resignation was invalid. This letter effectively refutes the core … More Discussion: Benedict XVI’s 2014 Letter vs. the Benepapists

The Authenticity of Benedict XVI’s 2014 Letter

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Roma Locuta Est has covered the recent publication of pope emeritus Benedict XVI’s letter to Msgr. Bux in 2014 (see The Stake through the Heart of Benepapism). In that letter, Benedict XVI clearly stated in renouncing the ministerium, he also renounced the munus as well. Benedict wrote: “In my opinion, … More The Authenticity of Benedict XVI’s 2014 Letter

Attending Mass in a Muslim Country – Letter from Abu Dhabi

August 19, 2025

“The Abrahamic Family House” This is the second of several articles that will offer a snapshot on attending Mass in Abu Dhabi. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the city of Abu Dhabi serves as the capital of the nation. The first letter discussed the Cathedral complex. August … More Attending Mass in a Muslim Country – Letter from Abu Dhabi

The Stake through the Heart of Benepapism

August 11, 2025

August 10, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Monsignor Nicola Bux and Vito Palmiotti have just published a book titled, Realta e Utopia nella Chiesa, or Reality and Utopica. In its appendix, this new book includes a letter written by Benedict XVI to Msgr Bux in August of 2014 — a year after Benedict’s resignation, when he … More The Stake through the Heart of Benepapism

Benepapism: The gateway drug to sedevacantism

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Last night I received DMs from folks on X wanting to give me a heads up that Dr. Mazza, noted Benepapist and Semi-vacantist, was being interviewed by Stephen Kokx on his YouTube channel. The title of the video was Is Leo XIV a True Pope? Mr. Kokx, in articles … More Benepapism: The gateway drug to sedevacantism

Letter from Abu Dhabi: The Cathedral Complex

August 5, 2025

This is the first of several articles that will offer a snapshot on attending Mass in Abu Dhabi. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest in the United Arab Emirates, and the city of Abu Dhabi serves as the capital of the nation. August 4, 2025 (Edward J. Barr) Scores of small commuter buses … More Letter from Abu Dhabi: The Cathedral Complex

Dr. Mazza: A Semivacantist?

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – [Updated 5/25/2025] In the immediate aftermath of the election of Pope Leo XIV, Roma Locuta Est decided to check up on various leading Benepapists – i.e., those who claimed Benedict XVI’s resignation was invalid – and to see whether or not they accepted our new Supreme Pontiff. Roma … More Dr. Mazza: A Semivacantist?

Habemus Bugnolo?

May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Just a day or so ago Roma Locuta Est published an article titled Habemus Problem? which surveyed the landscape of the assorted, leading voices of Benepapism (i.e., the belief Benedict’s resignation was invalid) and or leading voices of those who claimed Francis was an antipope. The purpose of this research … More Habemus Bugnolo?

Habemus Problem?

May 10, 2025

May 10, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – [Updated 5/11/2025] A recent Roma Locuta Est post outlines the reasons why I believe a Catholic should be optimistic about the election and reign of Pope Leo XIV (see Habemus Papam). But, for this current article, I decided to survey some of the reactions to Pope Leo XIV’s election … More Habemus Problem?

Habemus Papam

May 10, 2025

May 9, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Everyone is chiming in on the election of the first American pope, Leo XIV. Roma Locuta Est, Liliputian as it may be, cannot be expected to do less. Below I will lay out the case for why I am optimistic for the reign of Pope Leo XIV. As I … More Habemus Papam

Commentary and Apologetics