Benevacantism (a portmanteau of "Benedict" and "sedevacantism") is the fringe Catholic belief that Pope Benedict XVI did not validly resign the papacy and therefore remained pope, making Pope Francis an invalidly elected antipope. Believers of this theory are called "Benevacantists".
Benevacantism emerged in conservative Catholic circles shortly after the election of Pope Francis in response to his less conservative theology. Benevacantists speculate that Benedict's resignation was invalid because Benedict had a faulty understanding of the papacy, or because external pressures made him not able to resign freely.
After Benedict predeceased Francis, some Benevacantists recognized Francis as the rightful pope while others adopted sedevacantism.
History
Background
On 11 February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign at the Apostolic Palace in the Sala del Concistoro, at an early morning gathering held to announce the date of the canonization of 800 Catholic martyrs. Speaking in Latin, he told the attendees that he had made "a decision...
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