Benedict XVI: The 'Dead Pope' Not Dead Enough for the Liberals

I've been thinking some about that comment from Mr Mickens, just trying to get inside his head a little and little about it makes sense. It makes about as much sense as Elena Curti's latest effort. Supposedly, the liberal dissenting crowd from The Tablet are head over heels that Francis is Pope and Benedict XVI is not. Benedict XVI's status is curious in as much as he is kind of like a dead Pope who is alive. I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful, but its kind of how it is.

He is a Pope Emeritus who is not reigning, who laid down the keys and passed them onto another, handing over to another to the governance of the Church he felt was no longer within his physical and spiritual power to govern.

In terms of the Papacy, Benedict XVI is dead even though he is alive. He no longer sits upon the Throne of Peter. He no longer exercises authority. He cannot issue motu proprios. Another has taken his place who, it appears, is more to The Tablet's liking, or, at least, more easily presented as such, especially if Vatican Radio is anything to go by.

Not reigning, yet still keeping Mickens awake at night?

Why is this not enough for one such as Bobby Mickens? Even in 'victory' he is unhappy and frustrated that a frail and elderly man who governed the Church with wisdom and prudence (if not Bobby's kind of wisdom or Bobby's kind of prudence) is breathing the same air as him.

It would be naive to think that Bobby is alone in his death-wish for the 'dead Pope' still living even though 'Francis rules ok'. Obviously, the individual with whom he was discussing the matter with agreed with him and these two are doubtless not alone in their view. That's the frightening thing. They won't be happy, presumably, until he is gone, dead, to his eternal reward and his memory can be slowly, or even rapidly, erased. It seems to me, just from that comment, that there exists a very real, frightening and arguably diabolical hatred for Benedict XVI that existed within and without of the Vatican before his election, during his pontificate and even after his resignation.

Benedict XVI is not the Pope anymore. So, why isn't Bobby Mickens happy? Even when Francis does or says controversial things, Benedict XVI keeps silent. Does he see an ailing, elderly man dressed in white as some real and present danger, a threat to the new Church of the Brotherhood of Man that Bobby seeks to will, in union with his Vaticanista chums, into being?