Q. During the Eucharistic prayer, our
diocese prays by name both for our current bishop and also for our retired
bishop. Yet I have never heard our pope emeritus (Pope Benedict) mentioned
during the Eucharistic prayer. Is there a reason why he cannot be mentioned
along with Pope Francis? (Schenectady, N.Y.)
A. It's a good question, and I agree with the sentiment you
express. Strictly speaking, neither a retired pope nor a retired bishop is to
be mentioned at that part of the Eucharistic prayer — the reason being that
they no longer exercise pastoral authority.
That question was answered in the March 2013 newsletter from the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Divine Worship; that article
explained that a retired pope or bishop, "while they retain their
episcopal dignity and their standing within the order of bishops, they no
longer symbolize, express or are responsible for the communion of the local or
universal church."
The same article does permit mention of a retired pope or bishop
in the prayer of the faithful or in the "commemoration of the
living," which is part of one of the four main versions of the eucharistic
prayer.
To be honest though, this all sounds rather technical to me, so
here is what I have been doing. Four years ago, when our own bishop retired,
the diocese announced that he could be mentioned by name along with his
successor in the Eucharistic prayer. It struck me that, by the same logic, we
should be permitted to mention Pope Benedict, who had retired the year before.
So for the past four years — in whichever of the Eucharistic
prayers I am using — I have been praying publicly for our current pope and
bishop and also for "Benedict, our pope emeritus, and Howard, our bishop
emeritus." No one has complained, and somehow I think that God doesn't
mind either.
Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at
askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, New York 12203.