VATICAN CITY—Agent of Pope Benedict XVI had just been lowered to its grave in the crypt under the Basilica of St. Peter when wild speculations began to swirl. Now that Benedict, who retired in 2013, is gone, is that possible? pave the way for Francis became the second pope in modern history to become pope emeritus?
But the whispers weren’t about Francis making a choice. They are back how to shove he from the throne.
At the heart of the alleged plot to overthrow the incumbent pope is Archbishop Georg Gänswein—formerly known as Gorgeous George, or George Clooney of the Catholic Church, because of his unpretentious good looks. he. Gänswein was Head of the Papal Household under Pope Benedict and has assumed that role will continue once Francis is elected. But a few years after his pontificate, Francis fired the archbishop and sent him to the retirement convent, where Benedict spent the last ten years of his life, leaving Gänswein “shocked and speechless” of some decisions decision that Francis made to destroy Benedict’s estate. .
Gänswein’s all-encompassing book, My Life Beside Benedict XVIwill be available in bookstores on January 12. It is set to reveal what the retired pope really thinks about Francis’ pontificate and the private correspondence of the returned pope. retirees to conservatives—some of whom are said to be highly critical of Francis—and is likely to spark a controversy. a series of criticisms against him.
The archbishop implied that he had promised Benedict that he would wait until his death to publish it, although it is unclear whether the previous pope gave the blessing or read the manuscript or even knew about the book. book or not. Some Vatican watchers have accused Gänswein of hijacking Benedict’s mourning time and turning it into a war between followers of the two popes.
Father Alberto Varinelli, a priest in the northern city of Bergamo, wrote an open letter to the Archbishop on Tuesday, begging him to stop publication, saying that all of that “is being prevented. back” by those who want Francis to go. .
“As you well know, that text is eagerly awaited by factions hostile to the current Pope and, if there are attacks on Francis, it will do a lot of damage to the unity of the Church,” he wrote in a letter that was widely circulated among Catholics. “If it is discovered that the text is a collection of resentments and attacks, even with all the consequences that follow, immediately block its printing and sale. It would be a noble act of a bishop on the side of truth, not yielding to sympathy or the temptation of resentment.”
Last weekend, a anonymous cardinal said La Stampa newspaper about a “secret plan” currently being worked out by conservative bishops including Gänswein to put so much pressure on Francis that he would have no choice but to resign.
Gänswein has spent the past few years documenting the rift between past and present popes, with whom he claims to have a bitter relationship, in part because Benedict is still considered the only true pope by traditionalist Catholics who sought to see him in the shadow of the rulers. Pope. “It seems that Pope Francis no longer trusts me and chose him as my chaperone,” Gänswein said he told Benedict when he was fired.
Worried about the contents of his new all-in-one book, Francis summoned Gänswein for a private audience on Monday, although the agenda of their meeting was completely kept under wraps. Among the things Gänswein said after the meeting was that he must now keep quiet.
“These revelations undermine Benedict’s oath of allegiance to Francis.“
It’s a kind of plot of the Vatican palace equivalent of Prince Harry Preventiveand strongly opposed Francis and, according to excerpts published in the Italian press, sided with conservatives such as the American cardinal Raymond Burke, whose patronage was associated with none other than Trump’s one-time confidant, Steve Bannon.
In his War Room podcast in the days following Benedict’s death, Bannon addressed one of Francis’ strongest critics, author Joseph Pearce, who attacked the sitting pontiff over some issues. According to the filing, Bannon has called Francis an “enemy” almost since he was elected, warning European populists like Italian politician Matteo Salvini that he would lead to downfall. of Europe through its immigration policies.
It’s no secret that Francis has had enemies in the church since being elected to the conclave in 2013. His “liberal” stance, which includes welcoming homosexuals and migrants, spares condoning abortion and premarital sex, and banning the Latin Mass, has been likened to heresy by many in the traditionalist corners of the church.
But his main response to whispers of his resignation was a show of strength. After nearly six months in a wheelchair, all of his meetings this week have shown him standing on his legs with a cane. Whether subtle or casual, the show of power has not been lost on Vatican followers.
Pope biographer Austen Ivereigh, who co-authored a book with Francis, warned Tuesday that the new book, and the movement it embraces, will incite those who want another conclave.
“These revelations undermine Benedict’s oath of allegiance to Francis, to which Benedict has strictly adhered; violate Gänswein’s obligation of confidentiality to both,” Ivereigh tweeted, adding that they also “encourage those who seek to wrongfully place Benedict’s legacy against Francis.”
