Benevacantism

Benevacantism (a portmanteau of "Benedict" and "sedevacantism") is the fringe Catholic belief that Pope Benedict XVI did not validly resign the papacy in February 2013 and therefore remained pope, making Pope Francis an invalidly elected antipope. Believers of this theory are called "Benevacantists".

Benevacantism emerged in conservative Catholic circles shortly after the election of Pope Francis in response to his less conservative theology. Benevacantists speculate that Benedict's resignation was invalid because Benedict had a faulty understanding of the papacy, or because external pressures made him not able to resign freely.

After Benedict predeceased Francis on 31 December 2022, some Benevacantists recognized Francis as the rightful pope while others adopted sedevacantism.

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