Archbishop Georg Gänswein has been seen by many as a gatekeeper of the two popes. As personal secretary to the Pope Emeritus and prefect of the Pontifical Household of Pope Francis, he has unparalleled access to the minds of both.
In an interview yesterday, Gänswein puts to rest the suspicions that the former pope is unaware of the controversies now embroiling the Church. According to Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register:
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who turns 90 on Easter Sunday, has read Amoris Laetitia thoroughly, taken note of the controversies surrounding the document and how it is implemented, but is not commenting on it in any way.
This is according to Benedict’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein who, in an April 12 interview with the Italian daily La Repubblica, said the former pope is well aware of contrasts made between him and Pope Francis, but does not let them provoke him, and has “no intention of entering controversies that feel far away from him.”
Benedict XVI, he said, is “serene, quiet and in a good mood,” doing only those things that his strength allows.
[…]
Archbishop Gänswein said the Pope Emeritus continues to watch the television news at 8pm, receives L’Osservatore Romano, and Avvenire, the Italian bishops’ newspaper, as well as Vatican press releases. He also enjoys reading the Church fathers and keeping updated on the most important theological publications.
He said Benedict has “never regretted” resigning, but continues to believe that he “did the right thing, for the Lord’s sake and for the good of the Church.” In his soul, Archbishop Gänswein added, is a “touching peace, which suggests that in his conscience there is the certainty of having done well in the sight of God.”
The presence of peace within him “is a beautiful gift stemming from the decision.”
Asked a recurring question — whether he was pressured to step down — Archbishop Gänswein said: “No not at all!,” and referred to Benedict’s comments in last year’s book interview with Peter Seewald, Last Testament, in which he said he had faced “no pressure from any side.”
“If there were, he would not give in,” he said. “He had become aware of not having the strength to guide the barque of Peter which needed a strong rudder. He understood the need to give back to the hands of the Lord what he had received from Him.”
[…]
Asked if he was aware of those who see Francis’ magisterium in opposition to Benedict’s, Archbishop Gänswein said that “reading the newspapers and seeing the news, it’s not possible that Benedict doesn’t notice now and again these contrasting positions,” but he doesn’t let such statements provoke him. “He has decided to keep quiet and stay true to this decision,” he said. “He has no intention of entering controversies that feel far away from him.”
On whether he ever regretted dressing in white, his personal secretary said, “It’s a question that for him hasn’t and doesn’t arise. It was a natural thing. He does not see problems [with it],” especially as he removed the mozzetta (the short cape that covers his shoulders) and white sash. “For him it is simply a garment as any other,” he said.
Lastly turning to the controversies in the Church caused by Amoris Laetitia, in particular that the text has caused confusion at the pastoral level due to varying interpretations, Archbishop Gänswein said Benedict XVI “received a copy of Amoris laetitia personally from Francis, in white and autographed.
“He read it thoroughly,” Archbishop Gänswein said, “but he does not comment in any way on the content.
“Certainly he is taking note of the discussion and the different forms in which it has been implemented.”
While it certainly seems hard to believe that Benedict is unaware of what is going on in the Church, isn’t it interesting that we never hear from him directly? I’ve heard from some sources with knowledge of the subject that Gänswein has been acting as the gatekeeper to all things Benedict since before his abdication. We certainly hear with some regularity what Gänswein says Benedict is thinking.
Nevertheless, information does come in and out of the enclave of the Pope Emeritus. He has given interviews and met with visiting groups. He has been seen in public several times.
Sadly, it does appear as though he is not concerned about what has befallen the Church in his absence. If that’s so, more’s the pity.
Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.
Sorry, not buying it.
Does anyone else get the impression that Ganswein is basically Wormtongue?
Is this question intended for Peter ?
I wonder how C. Burke feels about this stance of Benedict? It is v. disappointing that Benedict had no comment on Amoris Laetitia which is such a highly controversial document – something seems fishy !
I agree. I remember when the controversy began to boil Pope Benedict said he approves of all that Bergoglio was doing. I’m still puzzled over that one.
I look forward to reading the letter that allegedly prompted Benedict’s resignation. The blog AnonimidellaCroce has promised to publish it and I am less inclined than you are to think that the blog is a hoax.
Clearly, either Arch. Gaenswein or Archbishop Negri lies about the absence of any pressure.
Best wishes for the coming Easter.
Right. You mean Archbishop Ganswein will see to it that Benedict will not respond. A dollar to donuts that’s EXACTLY what’s going on here.
Happy Holy Thursday!
Benedict has literally had many opportunities in open air forums to announce his opposition to Pope Francis if he had such intentions. He doesn’t. Deal with it. This was just a few months ago.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4e8a519c964ed418e4bb5c803114665820b32abbc621a1a493c78f631b3c0409.jpg
Twisting the knife is the first step in pulling it out, right?
Right?
It all sounds rather selfish doesn’t it. It’s either true (which would be sad but maybe not so unsurprising anymore) or its BS. Who knows. And in fact who cares. Let’s focus now completely on Our Lord and His passion. That’s all that matters. God bless all of you.
I genuinely have such a confluence and conflict of varying thoughts and feelings on this…..something like each one being akin to a Metro North train, and all simultaneously crashing into the center of Grand Central Station of a morning……that I am not sure what to say. But I thank you for posting this, Steve, and having read the NCR piece which you linked, also, I think it is important to know this, whether true or “managed.” Only time will tell us which. Two things especially jarred me: the nonchalance purported to be Pope B’s regard for papal attire (“only a garment”), which feels like a “so what?”, (though I suppose it could mean he has risen above material things of any kind, in a way proper to a holy man), and this one, from the NCR feed, regarding Pope Francis’ election —- “Benedict had said Pope Francis “was a nice breath of ‘fresh air’” and “made no other comments.” That one just feels too naive for such an astute man.
Count yourself lucky that you only have a confluence Comrade. Some of us have to put up with Molotov’s flatulence.
Indeed, nothing but hearsay.
During this Holy Triduum it may be fruitful to contemplate The Passion of The Church. Before our Blessed Lord returns in glory His Mystical Body must follow Him in His Passion. We could be living during the beginning of these things. How long of a period it will be, we don’t know. No matter the duration we should stay close to Him as St. John and the Most Blessed Virgin Mary stayed close. We must not scatter. We must not despair. We must not give up. Whether we witness the restoration of The Church in this life or the one to come we do know for certain that it will come. When we see churchmen behave as Judas, it is our duty to pray for them and revere The Lord all the more. Let us unite ourselves to The Lord in a special way during this Holy Triduum. Let us be with Our Blessed Lord during His Agony in the Garden. Ultimately when The Lord decrees the appointed time, let us rise again with Him.
AMEN.
The Register article also quotes Archbishop Ganswein as saying that the former Cardinal Ratzinger continues wearing white because he attaches no symbolic value to it; that, to him, “it is a garment as any other.” Then why don’t we see him in blue, or yellow, or chartreuse? Jeans? NFL hoodie? Either the former Cardinal Ratzinger is too out of it to have any clue what is going on all around him, or there is virtually no limit to what the Vatican spin machine expects us, at this stage, to swallow.
And he said he still wears the distinctive white papal cassock for “purely practical reasons.”
“At the moment of my resignation there were no other clothes available,” Benedict wrote in a brief letter to an Italian journalist that was published on Wednesday.
The emeritus pope also said that he kept the name Benedict, rather than reverting to his birth name of Joseph Ratzinger, because it was a simple solution.
Do we know he really wrote that? How do we know? There is absolutely NO TRUTH in the Vatican. What they do doesn’t even matter anymore. We can’t do anything about it except pray, since the bishops are zombies.
Seems odd since he also chose to be known as Pope Emeritus!
That’s actually what everyone just started calling him. He said that he would prefer to be called Father Benedict.
http://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/benedicts-new-name-pope-emeritus-his-holiness-benedict-xvi-roman-pontiff-em#.WPIhyhlOnqA
Benedict’s New Name: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman Pontiff Emeritus
Posted by EDWARD PENTIN on Tuesday Feb 26th, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Vatican discloses the new forms of address for the Pope, whose last day in office is on Thursday.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-request-of-a-retired-pope-simply-call-me-father-benedict-49952/
I don’t know who “everyone else” is but that is his official title.
Regardless, that title wasn’t chosen by him but for him.
Okay. His Holiness is a humble man; he wouldn’t mind if you called him Joe. Ain’t gonna happen. He hasn’t been known as Father anything for nearly 50 years.
Regardless, that’s what he wanted to be called. But he’s not. This is silly to get all worked up about.
Not worked up my dear. Happy and Holy Easter!
No, it was chosen by him. Please, read what Gänswein told about that some months ago.
If you have a source, I’ll take a look. But if Ganswein says one thing and Benedict says another about Benedict, I’m gonna go with the primary source.
I find it surprising how many people still fight and claw for every scrap of knowledge they can to say that Benedict is somehow silenced and that, if he knew, he’d be fighting the good fight. And every time some news comes out saying he’s fully aware and happy, the response is that it’s all a big lie.
The evidence is huge that Benedict isn’t going to say anything. Whatever his personal thoughts or feelings are regarding the current situation, it doesn’t matter. He’s not going to say a thing. I believe the primary reason he won’t is because he knows he’s not the pope and speaking up would confuse the faithful… and not only that, it could create a very real potential schism of people following 2 popes. Secondly, the man is almost 90 years old. He’s old and tired and is just waiting for the day his earthly journey ends. Right or wrong, that’s the situation. Personally, I don’t think he should have ever abdicated, whatever the reasons behind it.
What a pitiful note on the second most disappointing pontificate in history, superseded only by what we presently endure.
“He has no intention of entering controversies that feel far away from him.”
He is either indifferent, out to lunch, or held prisoner.
None of those choices pleasant to contemplate.
Disappointing is definitely a word to describe the pontificate of Benedict XVI. Aside from Summorum Pontificum, there’s not much to say other than that he quit.
There was so much promise.
Dashed.
And now this silence in the face of … one hesitates to name it.
Gänswein does not even give the courtesy of giving a note of awareness of the concerns of the faithful. We are treated as dirt.
Dumped into the hands of the Bergoglian Captivity.
Cowardice might be a word.
Certainly describes his actions, but regarding his pontificate there were such high hopes, and few if any were fulfilled.
I must say that I find this exchange between you and James and FreemenRtrue incredibly steeped in hubris.
You seem to think that you know best how he should have acted. Which means that a) you think you know better than him how to assess the situation, b) that somehow you are better guided by the Holy Spirit in your assessment c) you are holier than he so that you are better able to hear the Holy Spirit’s word.
The arrogance is breath-taking.
You should both read Cardinal Sarah’s latest book “The Power of Silence against the Tyranny of Noise” and maybe you and James will learn a bit of humility.
Affirms what I said about in my original post that this exchange started from. People are going to bat for Ratzinger/Benedict when there’s little reason left to.
I am greatly thankful for the man and his gifts to the Church. He’s the reason I’ve discovered so much of tradition that I have. His “The Spirit of the Liturgy” was the beginning for me. That said, what was accomplished during his pontificate? Summorum Pontificum, and better handling of abuser priests. Admittedly, both very much needed, but from a man of his caliber? More was expected. Rightly or wrongly, there was an expectation. And the crisis continues. That’s on him too.
And as for pope’s who’ve stepped down, well, Dante put the last one in hell. I certainly make no predictions, by no means, but it speaks to the seriousness of the act.
I never made a claim to know better than he in any way regarding being guided by the Holy Spirit; I know I’m not. I also don’t claim to know the difficulties and struggles of being pope. You alone made those claims. I’m just saying there’s a great deal of disappointment regarding the pontificate of Benedict XVI.
I could easily turn this around and point to your arrogance to know what others are thinking from a few sentences on the internet. You don’t know me or my thoughts. I’ve learned that the moment you are ready to tell someone to “learn a bit of humility” is usually a moment for self-reflection. But perhaps you are right and I shall pray about this. Thank you for the book recommendation though. It’s likely quite helpful.
Jafin, you should listen to amount of arrogance in your post
As I pointed out, you were exhibiting the height of pride by
1) Claiming to better know the situation than Benedict. You with your piddly little brain compaired to his thinks you somehow have a better grasp of the situation.
2) Being so far removed from the happenings in the Vatican (and basing your conclusions on hearsay) you think that somehow, your discernment (or lack of it) was somehow better than the one who was actually on the firing line. It is like a guy in Pennsylvania ensconced in his comfy abode telling those in the trenches in Afghanistan or Iraq or Vietnam how they should deal with the situation.
Like I said, total utter hubris. And it’s this kind of pride that is the product of the devil in the soul.
The only thing you can do is critique the theology and philosophy of any writer because we have the deposit of faith for that.
You cannot make a determination as to what is the correct course of action for someone who has been anointed by God especially someone so holy and surrendered to Christ. He and he alone is privy to how God wants him to act.
But you in your hubris, thinks that somehow you know better.
You think you are guided by the Holy Spirit better than he is?
It is just too stupid.
Oh yes you did when you made a determination that his silence, abdication, etc is the wrong move.
Seriously? You POSTED WHAT YOU WERE THINKING.
Bye!
You beat me to it. The insults are totally uncalled for. I see no hubris in the above exchange, only a feeling of disappointment and abandonment.
Thank God.
Oh well said indeed, MarcAlcan! That sums it up perfectly! This page is for respectful dialogue and sharing; not a platform for self!
It is what it is, I suppose.
Perhaps my tiny brain, is not meant to understand what cannot be understood.
I struggle with this every single day.
Blessings to all during this Holy time.
Agree. I remember having an incredible sense of dread when he announced his abdication and then lightning struck the Vatican. Twice. I still wonder how B16 interpreted that “sign”.
Totally agree with your last sentence.
Otherwise. I agree with Adoramus.
Quite frankly, I still think he was pressured in some way to resign.
Doesn’t resigning confuse the faithful? Especially when you live 4 years past your resignation? This is in addition to the final thoughts of the author, “isn’t it interesting that we never hear from him directly?” This too, seems to confuse the faithful. Or else they’d stop bringing it up.
I never said it didn’t. My point above is just regarding what he is probably thinking.
I agree – Benedict should never have abdicated though the forces against him (Galen mafia) were very strong.
His silence is extremely disappointing – why does he say that he was not forced out when the evidence is to the contrary? His word is crucial because it would render Francis a false pope. All of this lack of transparency makes us wonder how much we can believe of what is actually happening in the Vatican – Francis and his group are losing all credibility. This is not what Christ called his shepherds to do.
The Remnant Newspaper – St. Gallen’s Mafia [remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/fetzen-fliegen/item/2029-st-g…
Cardinal Confesses to ‘Mafia’ Club Against Pope Benedict XVI and for Jorge Bergoglio (‘Pope Francis’)
– https://thewildvoice.org/cardinal-mafia-against-benedict-for-pope-francis/
I wonder what the response would be if President Trump invited Pope Benedict to Mar-a-Lago for a few days just to relax and enjoy the Florida climate. Would Pope Francis “politely decline” the invitation for Benedict?
Who knows if he’s read AL? Who really knows anything?? This papacy is like a bad dream that just keeps rolling along and we never wake up.
who knows if he got a complete copy of AL. maybe there was one produced especially for him.
Excellent point. Benedict XVI upheld the prohibition of persons in adulterous relationships receiving Holy Communion during his pontificate.
Does Pope Francis ever wear a mozzetta?
NO
It’s interesting then that Apb Ganswein mentions this as evidence that Pope BXVI doesn’t consider himself pope…
Something is playing out here that is larger than life.
Finally, a poster that makes sense.
Benedict XVI< a great pope. a friend and love of Jesus Christ.
What a load of 100% pure, unadulterated, Bovine Scatology. If Cdl Ratzinger, fka Pope Benedict 16, is truly at peace with his decision to resign, he is either a Masonic Collaborator, senile, demented or has no conscience. After allowing Bergoglio to take a wrecking ball to all things remaining “Catholic”, he is a delusional fool to believe the Lord, not to mention His Mother, is happy with what the Modernist have done to His Church and the souls of the faithful.
If Pope Benedict hadn’t resigned, things would certainly look much different today—that singular act was a huge catalyst of events. He certainly must realize this.
Pope Benedict for all the good he did during his pontificate, by his one cowardly act of resigning from the See of Peter allowed an apostate Pope to take his place. The health condition of Pope John Paul 2 was worse than him but he did not resign and took his term to completion. The Vicar of Christ can be removed from his place only by Christ via his natural death. By removing himself from the papacy he did a great disservice to the Church. Now once he has done that from where will he get the courage to speak against the writing of Pope Francis. The same fear that made him resign must be still there that his life would end by murder if he did not just keep mum. As long as he was Pope he could not be touched easily by his enemies but now that he is a mere Cardinal by his own choice he can be easily done away with by his enemies and there could be plenty even now in the Vatican. Pope Francis may not treat him as enemy as long as he sits like a mute duck, but if he starts quacking against Pope Francis, considering how Pope Francis treats his opponents in the Vatican Curia I won’t be surprised Pope Benedict would not be a dead duck if he spoke out. Of course there were heroes among the Popes who would prefer to be martyred rather than accept untrue doctrine but I wonder after Vatican 2 there are such personalities even existing in our times. Sad but true.
This appears to be evidence of how easily the “gatekeeper” can become the prison guard. No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve those who love God and those who love Sin. One must choose, especially the supposed “gatekeepers” and those they supposedly speak for..
Abdications are never good things, Comrades. They upset the natural order and lead to unintended circumstances. (Or maybe ‘intended’).
Like this:
https://youtu.be/wBn06A-sdok
Led to this:
https://youtu.be/4CaVPzEbDUA
https://youtu.be/g6U6EC_ivBo
Who did this:
https://youtu.be/opkMyKGx7TQ
And this:
https://youtu.be/v4l3aaL8Je4
Benedict can’t comment because he owns it. AL is partly his. If he hadn’t thrown in the towel we wouldn’t have the AL problem and he knows it.
Suppose Benedict was to come out and say “AL is a piece of heretical crap which severely undermines Catholic moral teaching”, the obvious response is…..“thanks a lot Benny!”.
Among other things, Benedict was similarly silent in the incident of St. JPII being totally protective of the sex abusive head of the Legion of Christ…Marcial Maciel Degollado. As soon as Benedict was in office, he punished that carnal man but he obviously could endure him prior to that because perhaps he had and has an excessive concept of deference to his superior unlike Paul vis a vis Peter in Galatians.
I dont think any Cardinal can override the Pope. We see this same attitude in this Papacy. PF has overruled recommendations of the Commission he set up to look into reforms to prevent sex abuse. He has reinstated a couple of Priests about whom there is proof of abuse in one case, and reports of sexual misconduct in the other. In the finance area, they were on a roll and were about to set up international independent audit of Vat finances, then some pressure was applied by some Cardinals to PF and he overruled these much needed reforms. The trouble is, today we have the internet and all these decisions quickly became public knowledge and this causes scandal.
I believe he trusts God, to sort out His Church. He’s affording P. Francis what P. Francis himself denied him.
I read this yesterday in another site and it is one of the most depressing things I have read even worst than the some of the latest pronouncements of PF…I am particularly saddened by his comment about controversies that are far away from him …does no one at the Vatican care about what is going on…God we need you
“Sadly, it does appear as though he is not concerned about what has befallen the Church in his absence. If that’s so, more’s the pity.”
This is not the only conclusion that can be drawn from the facts. If Ganswein were not more or less on board with the New Regime, Francis wouldn’t keep him around in so prominent a post. Therefore, the fact that so much information about what Benedict supposedly “thinks” comes only filtered through Ganswein makes that information suspect at best. If Ganswein is in support of what Francis is doing, then he has every motive for spinning Benedict’s position in order to protect the narrative that Francis wants (i.e., continuity with his immediate predecessors).
The most convincing lie is something 90% true. So much of what Ganswein says about Benedict may be quite right. That is, Benedict may have decided to say nothing about Amoris. But his reason for maintaining personal silence may be to avoid a confusion over who is the true Pope. Realistically, if Benedict were to make a statement against Amoris, this could very easily result in an enormous schism. He may have decided that even though the situation is grave, God doesn’t want him to try to resolve it in that way (i.e., by speaking about against Francis).
I’m not saying that his decision is the right one. I’m not disputing that his decision to remain silent may be objectively a terrible mistake and failure. I’m just saying that “he is not concerned” does not follow necessarily from the facts. He may be very concerned, and feel that he must keep quiet to avoid causing schism due to the unique and unfortunate situation of being a ‘pope emeritus’ (again, I’m not saying that he is right in deciding to be silent; I’m speculating about his internal thoughts, much as this article speculates about his internal thoughts).
Really, there have only ever been three possibilities, and those possibilities haven’t changed since 2013:
1) Benedict is a villain of epic proportions, a Modernist totally in league with Francis. He stepped down to make way for Francis, and is glad to see Francis doing these things.
2) Benedict made one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the world by stepping down; he thought he had discerned God’s will, but was tricked by the adversary into leaving the hen house door open for the fox. In which case he may be personally orthodox, but still responsible for the devastation through gross dereliction of his papal duties.
3) Benedict is a good man, who correctly discerned the will of God by stepping down, and was therefore morally right in doing so. God’s will in that case would be that the Church fall into enemy hands, for reasons not entirely clear to us but in keeping with the history of Israel (which was frequently conquered by enemies, so that the people could be called back to the covenant).
I would argue that his theological writings, both before and during the papacy, rule out #1. Certainly #2 is possible, but I would argue for #3 (i.e., Benedict correctly discerned God’s will, and God is putting the Church to the test).
Your observations seem sensible to me. I have no confidence anyone’s speculations about what is going on in anybody else’s mind, let alone Ganswein.
Until I hear these words from Benedict himself it shall be regarded as hearsay.
Of heresy and schism he’s unconcerned,
For the Chair, Pope Benny, he’s spurned.
He seems so damn feckless,
With abdication so reckless,
I fear that hellfire he has earned.
“Purely practical reasons”? I don’t buy that one bit. It would take only minimal effort to get Benedict a black, red, or purple cassock. As many clergy and seminarians as there are in Rome, I don’t think finding a shop who sells them would be very difficult. Also, a person who is aging and will probably have an increased likelihood of spilling things on themselves does not wear a solid white thing for “purely practical reasons.” Also, why did he supposedly say he wanted to go by “Father Benedict?” He was a cardinal for more than 25 years before he was elected pope, and he has been a bishop almost as long. That means he has probably gone by something other than “Father” throughout most of his ministry. No, these more recent statements about him or supposedly from him do not match up with who he is. I think someone is making them dishonestly.
If Benedict had been convinced of his own senility, he might have been motivated to resign. A senile person may be able to write a book, or make a very brief statement or appearance once in awhile without his condition being obvious. Then again, a common way that people abuse the elderly and disabled is to constantly remind them of how frail or forgetful they are. Abusers often say or do things to scare a person entrusted to them, while at the same time making that person feel as if they are the only person who cares for them. Abuse is a serious accusation to make, so I’m reluctant to simply assume that’s what’s going on, but I definitely think there is a lot more to this story than we know now.
Georg Gänswein has recently stated that Benedict is aware of and is going to stay silent on the controversies surrounding Amoris Laetitia. To this, One Peter Five criticizes, “Sadly, it does appear as though he (Benedict) is not concerned about what has befallen the Church in his absence. If that’s so, more’s the pity.”
It takes incredible temerity to state that Pope Benedict doesn’t care about the Church now that he’s retired.
https://popefranciscatholics.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/catholic-blogs-that-lie-about-pope-francis/
Rather it takes a fair amount of temerity for any ecclesiastic of any stripe to abandon their position consigning the faithful into the hands of secular materialists whose regard for
the transcendent does not extend beyond nostalgia for a faith to which they no longer give credence.
Withdraw head from sand.
If I could read a single valid reason for Pope Benedict’s resignation, I might not regard it as one of the supreme scandals in modern history.
It is inconceivable that Benedict and his close colleagues could not foresee as viable the success of the “St. Gallen mafia.” Any individual familiar with the ecclesial bureaucracy knows full well the
depths to which these individuals are subject to fall. There ambition is not fueled by money but by a far more toxic impulse, shear ego.
Despite his protests to the contrary Pope Benedict, with the assistance of trusted and valued colleagues, could well have maintained office, furthered the restoration and forestalled the hideous consequences of resignation, which we now all endure.
History will not treat this wrenching episode or any of its participants well.
The Register article quotes Archbishop Ganswein.
I do not know if this quotes are true, because everything coming from this newspaper is colluded with Bergoglio, and nothing is published without his authorization.
Saying that, I am sorry to point that the photos published (true photos) two weeks ago showed Archbishop Ganswein receiving the president of Luxemburgo and his gay couple with a large smile in the Vatican, at the eyes of the world.
That was a scandal , and for that , Archbishop Ganswein has lost credibility.
I recognize that his position ( similar to a housekeeper of two popes) is very hard, but the smile, smile , was really natural.
The only thing that gives me the slightest bit of hope that BXVI might not be a tragic disappointment is that the man has read the entire Third secret. Only this gives me any sense of peace in the face of his maddening “serenity”.
Side question, no possible way to know this but does anyone think Francis has simply chosen to not read the Third secret? The thought that he has read it makes the pictures of him and benedict happily smiling together seen grotesque. The thought that he hasn’t makes their merry photo ops a lot more digestible.
There is one thing you haven’t mentioned. Pope Francis and Benedict can smile and express happiness because they know the love and joy of Christ. Maybe they are theological enemies, but they obey Christ when he commands us to love our enemies. And they both trust in God that all will be well with the Church in the end. Of course I do not like the controversy raging around the Church these days, I wish AL’s ambiguities and confusions would be straightened out ASAP. But we have to trust in the Lord and pray for one another, even those we profoundly disagree with. We can’t hope like Jonah did on some huge explosive heavenly punishment. But Fatima teaches us to practise penance and pray. So let’s do it and trust in Christ and the intercession of his and our beloved Mother!
These claims by Gänswein have an air of strangeness to them, something doesn’t add up.
Shhh..nothing to see here, everyone just move along.
He always seems so condescending. The excuses and answers so flippantly spoken. So matter-of-fact. He seems like a minder, and not a secretary. It will be interesting to see his future after BXVI passes.
Required reading:
http://www.christianorder.com/editorials/editorials_2017/editorials_jan17.html
Thanks for the link.
That article is the best deconstruction of this fiasco of a papacy which I’ve read to this point. Two thumbs up.
‘Christian Order’ is a marvellous little publication started decades ago by Fr. Paul Crane (an early Traditionalist) and now edited by Rod Pead, an Australian. I recommend it highly to all readers of 1P5.
From the same Register before the conclave that elected Bergoglio “Benedict’s New Name: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman Pontiff Emeritus
Posted by EDWARD PENTIN on Tuesday Feb 26th, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Vatican discloses the new forms of address for the Pope, whose last day in office is on Thursday.”
I am puzzled that Pope Benedict thinks his resignation was for the good of the Church. I can believe that was his intention, but in light of the result the mere suggestion is disingenuous.
Pope Benedict knew if he died Bergoglio or someone with similar ideas would
replace him…..by abidicating part of the papacy, he actually saved the papacy
although what he did was highly unusual. He actually saved the rest of us from
becoming sedevancanists
Mr. Johnson, I’ve been thinking about this for much of the day and do not understand it. Please explain. How does a Pope abdicate part of the papacy? Had Benedict not abdicated he would have remained the Pope. How does his abdication prevent the rest of us from becoming sedevacantists? Either Bergoglio is the Pope or he isn’t, irrespective of Pope Benedict’s status. For all intents and purposes, Pope Benedict may as well be dead.
Pope Benedict was getting older he knew the plans about Bergoglio
or someone similar becoming Pope after his death.. His abdication
gave him some control of the papacy namely the spiritual part…..so
when the faithful refused to accept an heretical pope we would still have
Benedict. Strictly speaking Benedict could not abdicate part of the papacy
and since he desired to rretain a part …he is still pope. If we cannot accept
Bergoglio in view of the St Galen group and the nutty things he says we
are not sedevacanists because we have Benedict…rejoice we have a
spare Pope!!! By the way it’s Mrs. Johnson.
PS I do not intend to make fun of the situation it is very serious for Holy
Mother the Church ….Benedict better not die before Bergoglio is removed
for the sake of the papacy .
I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, but your reply makes no sense.The supposed desire to ‘retain a part’ of the papacy is just not possible, as is the rest of your message. I wish it were true, but a wish is all it will ever be.
Of course he could not retain part of the papacy.
He could have abdicated..but he did not do that
therefore he retained ALL of the papacy.
I’d like to hear Benedict XVI DIRECTLY: among the traits he is famous for, are his gentle clarity and lucid courage. Why have we to listen to Gänswein for the interpretation of Benedict’s thought?
I have recently received my copy of Cardinal Sarah’s latest book and he dedicated it to Benedict. I think he sees the wisdom in Benedict’s silence. In the same manner that Christ was silent as He went to the cross. I wonder if this is not the way to go to combat the tyranny of the Pope’s noise.
The evil that has overtaken the Vatican can only be defeated by God – and God we meet in the Silence.
This article asks some serious questions about what is going on (or not):
http://www.fatimaperspectives.com/oc/perspective986.asp
Since Ganswein serves both Benedict and Francis, how do we know that what he says is true and not something that he has been told to by Francis?
Ganswein strongly denied the assertions of Benedict’s friend the archbp of Ferrara Mgr Luigi Negri to the website riminiduepuntozero.it who said that Benedict resigned under huge pressures exerted both from inside and outside the Vatican.
Why no journalist was ever allowed to ask Benedict’s opinion about this serious issue straight from his own mouth ?
In my opinion Ganswein’s job is to keep the Pope Emeritus comfortably in a golden cage.
As Amoris Laetitia has profound consequences for the integrity of the Church, surrounding controversies can hardly be “far away from” the Pope who never ceased to remind us of the primacy of truth. Ganswein only undermines his own credibility with such political claptrap. If Benedict feels constrained by discretion to refrain from speaking, that is surely understandable. But let us not indulge the fantasy that present ecclesial disputes bear no weight on his conscience. No, let us instead note the deep tragedy: The figure with the most authority to call a spade a spade, to stir the Church’s conscience, to summon Her back to the truth, has been rendered mute–and, what’s more, by his own actions–in the face of one of the most serious threats posed to the spiritual well-being of the Church in our time.
Archbishop Gänswein did not say that the Pope Emeritus agreed with Amoris Laetitia. Not even that he was pleased with it. That says something!
Qui tacet consentire videtur.
So Ganswein, the “Prefect of the Pontifical household” [who works for Pope Francis] was conveniently also drafted in as Pope Emeritus Benedict’s Private Secretary as a ‘good will’ gesture? – and he makes uncorroborated statements on Pope Benedict’s thoughts, opinions and even dress? Do these people think that Catholics are stupid? Pope Benedict is kept on a short leash, God help him. This whole situation is beyond disgusting.