Therequiembellishere is right, a few years ago Bush/Cheney was the effective executive of the US. It didn't matter that Moveon.org thought he stole the election, that Babs Streisand complained about it, or that delusional mental patients all over the world claim they are the real president. Benedict XVI is the Roman Catholic Pope, it doesn't matter that some guy in Kansas a few years ago said he was the real pope. Even if every country in the world decided they hated them as long as they hold effective control over their respective country/congregation in the way their title implies they are the leader no matter how much you don't like it.