An Unnecessary Clarification

I wrote yesterday:

In Italy, every university Professor is called, upon retirement, “Professore Emerito”.

This is meant to mean exactly what Benedict stated: the professor is not in charge anymore, but the honour of the position remains with him forever, it stays with him for life.

No one thinks he still has the job.

Nobody.

Not one.

The words and the concept are elementarily clear to every Italian, and Ratzinger has lived there for the better part of his life. It is clear enough what he wanted to say. The rest is  fluff.

This is not difficult to understand for anyone who takes the time to, actually, read.

No Italian thinks that a Professore Emerito still has the job. 

Nobody. 

Not one. 

What the word mean, is that the man is now retired, and another one is teaching in his place.

Professore Emerito is, very simply, how you call a retired professor.

This is exactly why Benedict has chosen the title of Pontiff Emeritus, and he explicitly said that he does not want to be the one in charge anymore. He very clearly wanted to convey exactly this meaning. 

Therefore, I am (emphatically) not stating that nobody believes that Benedict is still the reigning Pope.

I am, obviously, well aware that there are people who keep floating this absurd idea.

This is exactly why I write blog posts refuting it.

I don’t like being misrepresented, and I do not think this is, whether you agree with me or not, fair to this little effort.

M