The Church Visible: Bread crumb #23,597

Well this is encouraging.

“I had a face-to-face conversation yesterday with a person who had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome less than two weeks ago.

Pope Benedict is completely mentally lucid and sharp, and speaks and moves between multiple languages (that my contact eyewitnessed) with complete facility.

Pope Benedict, like almost all people over the age of 90, is thin. Almost no one weighs more at age 92 than at age 78.

+Gänswein was NOT present.

So, all claims that Pope Benedict is either senile or suffering from dementia are 100% incorrect”. HERE

Completely mentally lucid and sharp.

Which is why he can still CO-AUTHOR BOOKS in order to defend the Church against a usurper antipope.

Screenshot 2020-02-22 at 12.38.28

Which reminds me, I caught something the other day that I hadn’t noticed before. Take a close look at the Benedict head shot on the book cover. Notice anything… strange?

Screenshot 2020-02-22 at 12.40.32

Instead of the cassock, he’s wearing a simar. The simar is basically a cassock with a short, elbow-length cape (the pellegrina) attached to it. Below is a better look at it.

Screenshot 2020-02-22 at 15.34.48

Why is this interesting? Because after the faux abdication, Benedict stopped wearing the simar and went with a simple cassock instead.

Screenshot 2020-02-22 at 15.33.00

Presumably he did that because of his purported delegation of the POWER of the Office, a situation wherein a monarch retains his crown but power/jurisdiction is transferred to a regent (cf. Can. 131.1). Vis:

“The “always” is also a “for ever” – there can no longer be a return to the private sphere. My decision to resign the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this…I am not abandoning the cross, but remaining in a new way at the side of the crucified Lord. I no longer bear the power of office for the governance of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, in the enclosure of Saint Peter.” (Pope Benedict last General Audience 27 Feb 2013) HERE

You see, the simar, with its distinguishing pellegrina, is a symbol of JURISDICTION. The color is a symbol of rank. The simar is “formally restricted to reflect its true jurisdictional significance.”

Per The Church Visible, James-Charles Noonan, Jr., First Edition, page 293:

 

So many questions.

Why did totally-lucid Benedict choose this particular photo for the book cover? If he didn’t choose it himself, he at least would have had to personally approve it, right? Is it a recent photo, or is it over seven years old, which is the last time he was seen in a simar? If the photo is new, when did he start wearing it again? If the photo is old, why did  ++Sarah, the publishers, and Benedict himself want the book cover to VISIBLY DEMONSTRATE Benedict’s jurisdiction and authority?

But nah. I’m sure it’s nothing.

 

5 thoughts on “The Church Visible: Bread crumb #23,597”

  1. Count me as one who believes that Pope Benedict XVI doesn’t do anything without careful thought and consideration. One of the more encouraging posts I’ve read in some time.

    I wonder if there are those in the orthodox Hierarchy who see this too, and draw conclusions appropriate to their station. A signal to the Bretheren? One hopes. I have been assuming for seven years such a time would come in some unknown, unforeseen way. We shall see, of course. We must remain faithful, according to the gifts and light and station we have been given.

  2. I love the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and pray that if he needs to repent of anything our good God and Blessed Virgin grants him the grace to do so. God help me….I feel nothing like this for Bergoglio.

  3. Quinquagesima Sunday
    23 February 2020 A. D.

    Mark,

    This simar incident is extremely helpful. Photo looks current too based on eyes, somewhat dishevelled hair, and other signs of advanced 90-year age.

    Agreed, he engages the enemy sometimes, but picks and choses his battles.

    Longer commentary under rumination.

    Also, interesting confirmation of Fatima Center corruption over at RadTradThomist.org today.

    Bro. B.

  4. In the first photo, it looks like Pope Benedict is recovering from a black eye. It would be the second time I’ve seen a photo of him with a black eye posted on line. I’m surprised you didn’t mention it.

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