Pope Benedict XVI dies on New Year’s Eve. – Shortly thereafter, there is talk of an alleged revelation book. The author: Benedikt’s longtime private secretary Gänswein. Is the book explosive?
Just a week after the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. a book by his private secretary Georg Gänswein has been published in Italy.
In “Nient’altro che la Verità” (Nothing but the Truth), the Curial Archbishop reports on his life at Benedict’s side, both before and during his term of office and in the almost ten years after his resignation in 2013. In some Italian media there was advance notice there is already talk of Gänswein settling accounts with critics of Benedict and also with Pope Francis. The publishing house Piemme advertised the book with very striking words.
Behind the Vatican walls, the book is being whispered about after various media have been reporting excerpts for days. The 66-year-old describes and explains the decisions of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict, who died last New Year’s Eve at the Vatican at the age of 95.
Attack on Pope Francis?
Gänswein also criticizes some of Francis’ decisions, which was seen as an attack on the incumbent pontiff. Last Monday, Francis summoned the Black Forest for an audience. According to reports, it was about the book and Gänswein’s exodus from the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, Benedict XVI’s long-term residence. after his resignation in 2013. The Vatican did not announce anything about the content of the meeting.
The fact that Gänswein published his book so shortly after Benedict’s death and that the first excerpts were distributed by the publisher shortly after the death of the native Bavarian caused irritation in the Vatican. The Archbishop also quotes from private letters from the Pope to him. That didn’t help the relationship between Gänswein and Francis, according to people in the Curia. A distorted picture of the book may have emerged in the media.
In any case, Gänswein’s relationship with the Pope has been particularly difficult since 2020 at the latest, because Francis gave the German a leave of absence as prefect of the papal house – a job that involves working very closely with the head of the Catholic Church. He then saw himself as a “halved prefect,” as a chapter in the book is called. Gänswein also describes how Benedict tried to intervene on the subject; but Francis would not be persuaded. It is unclear how Gänswein will continue.
Little details from Benedict’s life
Otherwise, the book only comes up with small details from Benedict’s life that were not yet known. Gänswein, for example, describes how he and then Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone tried in vain to talk Benedict out of resigning – which he had decided to do long before February 2013.
In Germany, the book will be published by Verlag Herder, which is currently translating it. There is no exact date. Herder hopes to start sales in the spring, as a spokeswoman said.
Source: Stern
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