John-Henry Westen and Patrick Coffin discuss a petition accepted by the Vatican Criminal Court challenging the validity of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2013 resignation. The debate centers on whether Benedict renounced only the ministerium (active ministry) rather than the munus (papal office) required under canon law. Questions are also raised about the 2013 conclave and allegations involving the so-called “Saint Gallen group” and improper electioneering. If Benedict’s resignation or the conclave were invalid, the implications for the pontificate of Pope Francis and subsequent Vatican appointments could be enormous. The discussion explores the theological and canonical consequences of one of the most controversial claims in modern Church history.

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May 14, 2026