VATICAN CITY –
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s longtime personal secretary has written an all-inclusive book that his publisher promised on Monday to tell the truth about “blatant slanders,” “blatant slanders,” dark passages”, mysteries and scandals have tarnished the reputation of a pope known for his historic resignations.
According to a press release, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein’s book “Nothing More Than Truth: My Life Alongside Pope Benedict XVI” will be published this month by the house’s Piemme publishing house. Italian publishing giant Mondadori.
Benedict died Saturday at the age of 95 and his body was displayed Monday in St Peter’s Basilica ahead of Thursday’s funeral by his successor, Pope Francis.
Gaenswein, a 66-year-old German priest, has stood by Benedict’s side for nearly three decades, first as a full-time employee of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. , then started in 2003 as Ratzinger’s personal secretary.
Gaenswein followed his boss to the Apostolic Palace as secretary when Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005. And in one of the most memorable images of Benedict’s last day as pope, On February 28, 2013, Gaenswein wept as he accompanied Benedict through the frescoed halls of the Holy See. Vatican, say goodbye.
He remained Benedict’s janitor, confidant and protector during his decade-long retirement, and served until recently as Pope Francis’ chief cabinet. It was Gaenswein who celebrated the anointing of the sick last Wednesday, when Benedict’s health was deteriorating, and it was he who called Francis on Saturday to let him know that Benedict had passed away. .
According to Piemme, Gaenswein’s book contains “personal proof of the greatness of a moderate man, a fine scholar, a cardinal and a pope who made the history of our times.” However, it said the book also contains a first-hand account that will correct some “misunderstood” aspects of the pontificate as well as Vatican plots.
“Today, following the death of the pope emeritus, the time has come for the current prefect of the papal family to speak out his own truth about the blatant slanders and dark tricks attempted. in vain to cast a shadow over the authority and actions of the German pope. “, the press release said.
Gaenswein’s account “will finally reveal the true face of one of the greatest protagonists of recent decades, often gratuitously disparaged by critics as ‘Panzerkardinal’ or ‘Rottweiler’s’ God,” it said, referring to some of the popular media monikers for known Germans. because of conservatism, his doctrine was bent.
Specifically, the publisher said Gaenswein would address the “Vatileaks” scandal, in which Benedict’s personal butler leaked his personal correspondence to a journalist, as well as sexual abuse scandals. clerical education and one of the enduring Vatican mysteries, the 1983 disappearance of the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee, Emanuela Orlandi.
