Benevacantism

What benevacantism claims

"Benevacantism" is the label most often used for the view that Pope Benedict XVI's renunciation of February 2013 never validly took effect. On this view Benedict remained the true pope until his death on 31 December 2022, and Francis, elected in March 2013, was an antipope (Wikipedia overview). The word blends "Benedict" with "sedevacantism". The Wikipedia overview notes that critics find the blend misleading, because benevacantists did not claim that the see was empty while Benedict lived. The same overview says the view emerged in conservative Catholic circles shortly after Francis's election.

It differs from sedevacantism, which rejects every pope since Pius XII or John XXIII on grounds of alleged heresy. It also differs from the "recognise and resist" stance described under papal authority, which accepts that a pope holds office while criticising his acts.

The core arguments

Benedict read his Declaratio on 11 February 2013. In it he renounced the ministry of Bishop of Rome and announced that the See of Rome would fall vacant on 28 February 2013 at 20:00 (Holy See). Proponents' main arguments, as summarised in the Wikipedia overview and by critics, are these:

• Munus versus ministerium. Advocates separate the munus (the office itself) from the ministerium (the active exercise of its powers). They argue that Benedict gave up only the second, while canon 332 §2 of the Code of Canon Law speaks of renouncing the munus. The overview credits the Italian canonist Stefano Violi with an early discussion of the distinction, published in June 2013 in a theological journal of the University of Lugano.
• "Substantial error". The American blogger Ann Barnhardt argued in a 2018 video that Benedict was in substantial error about the nature of the papacy. Canon 188 makes a resignation invalid if it rests on substantial error, so on her argument the renunciation was void (overview). Rebuttals of her argument were published by Novus Ordo Watch (2018) and Roma Locuta Est (2023).
• Benedict's conduct after 2013. Supporters point out that he kept the white cassock and his regnal name, with the added title "emeritus". They also point to apostolic blessings in his letters and the keys on his coat of arms (overview).
• The "impeded see" variant. The Italian journalist Andrea Cionci set out the most elaborate version in his 2022 book Codice Ratzinger. He argues that Benedict deliberately placed himself in a sede impedita ("impeded see") without truly abdicating. The Catholic apologetics site UCCR, which is critical of the book, summarises the consequences Cionci draws: the 2013 conclave was illegitimate, Francis was effectively an antipope, and Francis's successors would also be antipopes (UCCR).

Key proponents and outlets

• Andrea Cionci has written for the daily Libero and for ByoBlu and RomaIT. Codice Ratzinger was published by Byoblu in 2022, and English, French and German editions are listed by booksellers (Amazon listing; OverDrive). Cionci says he filed a petition with the Vatican tribunal in June 2024 asking it to recognise the "nullity" of Benedict's abdication (his announcement, republished). He also says the Vatican's promoter of justice heard him in April 2025 (FromRome.info). TradWatch™ found no published outcome of either step.
• FromRome.info, whose articles are bylined by Br. Alexis Bugnolo, has argued the case in English since at least 2021. In March 2021 it disputed press accounts of a Benedict interview (FromRome.info).
• Ann Barnhardt publishes a blog and a podcast; her 2018 canon 188 argument is described above.
• Patrick Coffin, a Catholic media host, publicly promoted the claim that Benedict XVI was still the true pope in a multi-part series in 2022 (LinkedIn post).
• Alessandro Minutella, a former priest of Palermo, leads an Italian movement that rejects Francis. A 2022 diocesan decree records that he incurred excommunication on 18 August 2018 and was dismissed from the clerical state by papal decree on 13 January 2022 (Patriarchate of Venice decree).

What Benedict XVI himself said

Benedict spoke to Massimo Franco of Corriere della Sera in an interview published on 1 March 2021. The Associated Press reported that he defended the resignation as a decision taken in full awareness, and that he told the paper "there is only one pope" (AP via WSLS; America; Crux). Even FSSPX.News, the news site of the Society of Saint Pius X, headlined its report "There Are Not Two Popes," Says Benedict XVI (FSSPX.News). Benevacantist writers disputed that the interview proved what the headlines claimed (FromRome.info).

According to the Wikipedia overview, Benedict wrote to La Stampa around the first anniversary of his resignation to deny that he had been forced out. The philosopher Edward Feser argues that in his interview book with Peter Seewald, Benedict rejected the idea that the papal office and its functions can be pulled apart (Catholic World Report).

After Benedict's death (2022–2025)

Benedict died at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City on 31 December 2022, aged 95 (Holy See Press Office; CNN). His death removed the central premise of a living "true pope". The Wikipedia overview reports that some benevacantists then recognised Francis as pope, while others adopted sedevacantism.

The Italian current stayed visible. In August 2023 Il Post and Euronews reported on banners flown over Italian beaches promoting the claim that Francis was an antipope. Euronews described the claim as a conspiracy theory (Euronews; Il Post).

After the 2025 conclave and Leo XIV

The death of Pope Francis in April 2025 (timeline) and the election of Leo XIV in May 2025 (timeline) divided the movement further:

• Cionci read signs in Leo's first appearance, such as the red mozzetta and the absence of Francis's coat of arms on the balcony tapestry, as possible evidence that the legitimate succession had been restored (ByoBlu; Radio Radio). He then asked the Holy See for the conclave minutes, to check whether only cardinals created before Francis had voted (UCCR). UCCR later reported that Cionci and Minutella had publicly broken over Leo XIV, and that Minutella did not recognise Leo (UCCR). Some of Cionci's public talks have been billed as "Leone XIV: papa o antipapa?" (MilanoToday event listing).
• FromRome.info rejected Leo outright. A July 2025 essay argued that "if a pope be elected illegitimately, then clearly according to Canon 332 §1, he is not the pope" (FromRome.info), and later posts called Leo heretical and schismatic (FromRome.info).
• The critical blog Roma Locuta Est wrote that some leading voices rejected Leo's election while others were "sitting on the fence". It also claimed that many who rejected Leo had moved towards sedevacantism (Roma Locuta Est).
• Minutella's movement remains active. The bishops of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley said that its activity in their dioceses is "outside the Church" (Avvenire). In June 2026 the Bishop of Pescia reminded Catholics that Minutella holds no ministry in the Church (La Nazione).

Canonical status and what the Church teaches

• Resignation. Canon 332 §2 of the Code of Canon Law (1983) requires only that a papal resignation be made freely and properly manifested; it does not need to be accepted by anyone. Critics note that Benedict's Declaratio stated a date and hour from which the see would be vacant (Declaratio), and that Benedict later said publicly that he had acted with full awareness.
• Error and fear. Canon 188 voids a resignation made out of grave fear, malice, substantial error or simony. Benevacantists invoke it. Critics reply that Benedict himself denied both coercion and confusion.
• Unity with the pope. Lumen Gentium 23 calls the Roman Pontiff the perpetual and visible source and foundation of unity (Lumen Gentium). Canon 751 defines schism as the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him. The Minutella case shows the consequences in practice: the Archdiocese of Palermo declared that he had incurred excommunication for heresy and schism (La Sicilia), followed by dismissal from the clerical state.

Critics and assessments

Critics include:

• Edward Feser. The philosopher called benevacantism "not only dangerously schismatic but philosophically incoherent" (X; CWR).
• Other conservative Catholic outlets. Catholic World Report and The Catholic Thing both called the position "pointless" (CWR; The Catholic Thing), and Catholic Answers rebutted it.
• Latinists. The Wikipedia overview notes that Latinists regard munus and ministerium as more or less synonymous. It also reports that Cardinal Raymond Burke said it would be hard to call the resignation invalid.
• Italian critics of the "Ratzinger Code". The fact-checking outlet Facta called the theory unfounded (Facta). UCCR published a rebuttal and also noted that one source the book calls a canonist is in fact a professor of administrative law (UCCR). Aldo Maria Valli published a review rejecting the "Ratzinger Code", as FromRome.info reported critically.

Size and reach

TradWatch found no reliable measure of how many Catholics hold the view. Book listings describe Codice Ratzinger as a bestseller, but that is promotional language (Sololibri). The movement's reach is easier to see in Italian media coverage, Telegram channels and blogs than in any institution.