Ex-pope will have ‘pontiff emeritus’ title—Vatican

VATICAN CITY—Pope Benedict XVI will have the official title of “pontiff emeritus” after he resigns on Thursday — the first leader of the Catholic Church to do so since the Middle Ages, the Vatican said.

Benedict can be addressed as “Your Holiness”, can continue wearing his white papal cassock and will have the title of “Roman Pontiff Emeritus”, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Tuesday.