It may depend on whether all the dots can be connected, to prove that the Conclave of 2013 was invalid because of illicit politicking.
That would invalidate the supposed Pope Francis and everybody he elevated to Bishop or Cardinal.
It's too big for me to figure out.
I really do need to fast.
Dear Lord, please rescue your Bride.
Three possibilities:
1) Francis freely resigns (albeit with public calls for him to do so). He can then be deposed/degraded as a bishop after a new Pope is elected (cleanest way is to re-elect Benedict, but he neither wants nor has strength for it). Risk of some claimimg an invalid resignation, but no more than was true for Benedict. Also, would a Pope-emeritus Francis be as quiet as Pope-emeritus Benedict?
2) Election declared invalid. Cardinals created since would be invalid, also likely for episcopal appointments (but episcopal consecrations would be both valid and licit, as the mandate for consecration enjoyed presumed validity at the time). Better chance of a good pope being elected, as many shady Cardinals are barred (invalid creation), aged out, or are marginalized due to involvement in the politicking or subsequent scandal (Wuerl, Maradiaga). Triple-difficulty of proving the allegations of politicking (unfortunately the recent scandals and Viganò’s letter have little probative value here), getting Francis to accept/forcing him to accept, then garnering sufficient public acceptance of the invalidity. Very high risk of schism, with no guarantee that the “good guys” end up holding the high ground.
3) God interjects a word and addresses the problem for us. If He is especially merciful, He also calls Benedict home immediately before the Conclave is to begin (removal of any doubt of validity for new Pope)... Added bonus if this comes at the end of the Pope’s intransigent refusal to accept proofs of #2, which would give justification to bar recently-created (invalid) Cardinals from the Conclave.
All of them are messy. Don’t worry... pray.
Well said.