[GreyFriar]

The main post and Moynihan Rpt #7 are both worth reading.

The latter distinguishes between ‘retire’ vs ‘renounce.’ Now to consult the dictionary for where/if ‘abdicate’ fits in.

[GreyFriar]

Abdication:1:a formal resignation and renunciation of powers; thus I intrepretate Pope Benedict’s move as the same as King Edward VII’s. He will return to being Cardinal Ratzinger, and thus no ‘two pope’ problem.

[annalex]

The Pope wrote (the Curia only published the Italian, no Latin)

"dichiaro di rinunciare al ministero di Vescovo di Roma" (DECLARATIO)

This dictionary says, as a transitive verb it expresses "abdicate":

www.wordreference.com/enit/abdicate

[NYer]

There have been several sources that have attempted to clarify the terminology vis a vis the mainstream media. When I post these threads, I do so in their original format.

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. Abdicate is the proper word for this action.