This would mean that not only is Francis not valid, neither were Benedict, John Paul I & II, Paul VI and John XXIII. I reject this position because I think it contradicts Matthew 16:18 and 28:20. Even with the Western Schism and Avignon Papacy, the Church was able to go back and determine which pope was valid, we don't have that here.
The ONLY reason I could think of to invalidate Francis is if it was revealed that Benedict was forced to step down and there has never even been a hint of that.
Historically accurate.
However, the sedevacantists and those who sympathize with them are acknowledging the notion that a pope could be illegitimate.
Unless the following is true:
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BANKERS' FINANCIAL BLACKMAIL FORCED BENEDICT XVI TO "RESIGN"
"The piece is of Maurizio Blondet. He writes that Pope Benedict was forced to resign not only because of internal pressures, but also because the SWIFT payment system had excluded the Vatican from the entire worldwide payment system, controlled by the USA. The Vatican's bank was immediately readmitted when the Pope announced his resignation. This makes the Pope's resignation invalid because they were not free from any sort coercion / duress. The election of Bergoglio was by consequence also invalid, which is what Father Paul Kramer has said from the start, all the way through..."
BANKERS' FINANCIAL BLACKMAIL FORCED BENEDICT XVI TO "RESIGN" Maurizio Blondet