Benedict XVI is abdicating on the 28th of February!

[Jonathan Webster]

Not exactly sure where to put this (doesn't seem to be an 'ecclesiastical heraldry' section any more), but Pope Benedict has announced he will abdicate on the 28th of February of this year. Does anyone know who the most likely candidates are in the next Papal Conclave, and what their arms are?

[Ton de Witte]

it is called religious heraldry (located near the bottom of the list)

topic has been moved

[Jonathan Webster]

Ah; thanks Ton; couldn't see for looking!

[Daniel Gill]

Perhaps this could be moved to that section.

On topic, more interesting heraldicly speaking is what ornaments soon-to-be Joseph Ratizinger once again would use around his arms. It's not clear---though I would assume it will be the case---he'll go back to being a cardinal. My bet is that he'll use the arms he presently uses but rather than redesign.

[Jeremy Kudlick]

The Vatican has confirmed that he will return to his previous status as a Cardinal, but his exact role in the Church is yet to be determined.

[Ton de Witte]

I read that he will retire into a monastry which is located in the Vatican

And what is also interesting what will he be. He is a bishop but without a see as his current one will be taken over by the new pope. I wonder if he will be a titular archbishop or mayby emiritus archbishop of Munchen-Freising.

[Chris Green]

As Pope Benedict is over 80 and cannot therefore participate in the Conclave, one might imagine that he will be made a Cardinal Deacon. But this is such an unusual event that he may receive some other - unique to him - title. The intriguing question is whether he appoints himself or waits for the new Pope to arrange it. If the latter, what is he in the interim? Just a priest? I don't suppose he personally is that fussed. But I bet the Vatican is buzzing.

[Ryan Shuflin]

Will he still be Benedict?

[Jonathan Webster]

I know he used different arms as a cardinal from the ones he uses as Pope.

[Jeremy Kudlick]

Will he still be Benedict?

No. Benedict XVI is his papal name. He will be Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, just as he was before being elected to the papacy.