The presence of two popes, “both in white” as the press emphasized at the time, unleashed an unprecedented problem in the recent history of the Church.
The first pontiff to renounce the Throne of Peter in six centuries had vowed to live “hidden from the world” in a former convent, leading a life of contemplation and academic research. But he ended up intervening on sensitive issues such as sexual abuse by priests and speaking out against the possibility of ordaining married men as priests.
The elderly Benedict XVI’s contribution in 2020 to a book defending celibacy was interpreted as a new attempt to put pressure on Francis, orchestrated by opponents of the Argentine pope.
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Ultra-conservative sectors of the Church have turned Benedict XVI into an emblem of theological orthodoxy against Francis, whom they have come to accuse of heresy for his openings in the social field. Many experts point out that this tension may have been fueled by the lack of precise rules on the role of a resigning pontiff.
“There were indications about possible problems from the beginning”wrote Richard Gaillardetz, a Boston College professor of Catholic theology in the National Catholic Reporter.
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NA
“The publication of views on controversial issues, when they come from a person who insists on deserving of the title ‘pope’ (albeit emeritus), dresses in papal regalia and resides in the Vatican, poses a profound problem,” he added. .
Even many supporters of Benedict XVI believe that he should have used his first name, Joseph Ratzinger, when he signed his contribution to the controversial book.
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Historian Francesco Margiotta Broglio, head of Italy’s Commission for Religious Freedom, believes that “Ratzinger should neither write nor speak.” The advanced age of Benedict XVI, who has always been in delicate health and in recent years experienced difficulties speaking and writing, led observers to question whether he was the true author of the published reflections.
“It is likely that some prelates opposed to Francis have tried to hide a plot under the cloak of the pope emeritus,” said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University.
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Benedict XVI confessed when he resigned that he did not have the strength, neither mental nor physical, to reign over the destiny of more than 1,200 million Catholics. His personal secretary, Georg Gaenswein, recounted in 2016 that the emeritus pontiff was “slowly fading away.”
“The interventions of Benedict XVI in recent years have raised doubts, given his illness and age. (…). Some people think he could have been manipulated by those who wanted to discredit Francis, even if Benedict himself didn’t want it,” Gaillardetz said.
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ICA Press
Faggioli deems it necessary to establish what should be done with a pope emeritus, incapacitated and with a retinue, since this problem may reappear. He does not exclude that from now on the popes who retire will have to renounce their papal insignia and live in the Vatican.
Francisco revealed in December 2022 that he signed a letter of resignation nearly a decade ago in the event that his poor health prevents him from continuing to perform his duties.
Source: Ambito
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