Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI Won’t Enter ‘Amoris Laetitia’ Controversy
There would probably be more assassination attempts on his life if he did. BXVI is the true Pope
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.
The Pope Emeritus will be celebrating Easter and his birthday at his Mater Ecclesiae residence in the Vatican Gardens with his brother, 93 year-old Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. That is a “great gift”, Archbishop Gäsnwein said, adding that on Easter Monday he will enjoy a “modest Bavarian celebration” with a small delegation from the region.
He said that physically, the Pope Emeritus is “very lucid” for a man of his age, but his “strength is diminishing” and he depends on assistance to walk. He still plays the piano “but his hands do not obey like they used to, or at least do not obey as they should to play well.”
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.”
The German prefect of the Pontifical Household also denied the “Vatileaks” affair had an influence on the 2013 conclave. “Benedict followed the conclave on television,” he said, adding that in Seewald’s book, prepared a year after the election, Benedict had said Pope Francis “was a nice breath of ‘fresh air” and “made no other comments.”
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. ”
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