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| World Youth Day got to him |
The Italian daily, La Repubblica just published an interview with Pope Emeritus Benedict by Elio Guerriero, editor of the Italian edition of Ratzinger's works and author of a forthcoming biography. Andrea Torneilli provided a short summary in English for Vatican Insider.
These are only excerpts, of course:
On Pope Francis:
Obedience to my successor has always been unquestionable. Then there is a sense of deep communion and friendship. The moment he was elected I felt, as many others did, a spontaneous sense of gratitude towards Providence. After two Pontiffs from Central Europe, the Lord set his eyes as it were on the universal Church and invited us towards a broader, more Catholic communion. I personally felt deeply touched right from the start by Pope Francis’ extraordinary human warmth towards me. He tried to reach me by phone right after his election. He wasn’t able to get hold of me so he tried again straight after the meeting with the universal Church from St. peter’s balcony and he spoke to me in a very cordial manner. Since then, he has given me the gift of a marvellous paternal and fraternal relationship. I often receive small gifts, letters written in person. Before undertaking any major trips, the Pope always comes to visit me. The human kindness he has shown me is for me a special grace in this final phase of my life, which I can only be grateful for. What he says about being close to other people are not just words. He puts them into practice with me. May he in turn feel the Lord’s kindness every day. For this, I pray for him to the Lord.
On Cuba and Raul Castro:
I need scarcely remind you of how impressed I was in Cuba to see the way in which Raul Castro wishes to lead his country onto a new path, without breaking with the immediate past. Here too, I was deeply impressed by the way in which my brothers in the Episcopate are striving to navigate through this difficult process, with the faith as their starting point.
On World Youth Day and his decision to resign:
I was very certain of two things. After the experience of the trip to Mexico and Cuba, I no longer felt able to embark on another very demanding visit (to WYD in Rio in the Summer of 2013). Furthermore, according to the format of these gatherings, which had been established by John Paul II, the Pope’s physical presence there was paramount. A television link or any other such technological solution was out of the question. This was another reason why I saw it as my duty to resign.
Read the full summary here.
One would, I suppose, expect the Pope Emeritus to say nice things about Francis, though for faithful Catholics dreading each new day of the current pontificate, Benedict's overly effusive praise of Francis' election and his alleged quality of "being close to other people" are bound to grate.
Regarding being "impressed" by Raul Castro and the collaborationist episcopate in Cuba: Castro is a brutal communist tyrant who personally shot "counter-revolutionary" prisoners. The Cuban bishops are even now helping him suppress dissent, including dissent among Catholics. Would the younger anti-communist Benedict have ever made such outrageous statements?
Finally, that the universal head of the Catholic church felt it was his duty to resign (the first Pope in almost 600 years to do so) because he couldn't manage to attend an outdoor festival of Catholic teenagers in Brazil is of course insane.
I'm reminded of The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. Everything you thought you could count on is going to pieces. Everyone you believed you could trust is betraying you.
A donkey is wearing a lion's coat.
Now that the Olympics are over, which largely occupied my mind for the last two weeks, I feel a profound sense of depression. There is no new good news about the Church. None. A donkey is wearing a lion's coat and the enemies of God are mocking and jeering.
What new deviltry will the next day bring?
Rendered speechless by this, not to say aghast!
ReplyDeletePope Benedict did not write it. It is written by the lying minions of antipope Bergoglio.
ReplyDeleteI pray that you are correct, but the truth should be exposed.
DeleteJust as the Soros - Franciscus connection i.e. with his cohort at least.
This is a whole lot of not good Oakes. And certainly depressing as if we did have enough already to do that. I agree with Barbara Jensen. Sounds like Pope B. had some help in composition. And that, in a way, is an uplifting thought.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have trouble with believing that Benedict XVI is praising Castro's refusal to break with the immediate past, i. e. an immediate past of violence to his people.
ReplyDeleteNorcia survived the earthquake. That is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteDo you think I care if Aslan dooms me to death?” said the King. “That would be nothing, nothing at all. Would it not be better to be dead than to have this horrible fear that Aslan has come and is not like the Aslan we have believed in and longed for? It is as if the sun rose one day and were a black sun.”
ReplyDelete“I know,” said Jewel. “Or as if you drank water and it were dry water. You are in the right, Sire. This is the end of all things. Let us go and give ourselves up.”
“There is no need for both of us to go.”
“If ever we loved one another, let me go with you now,” said the Unicorn. “If you are dead and if Aslan is not Aslan, what life is left for me?”
Yes. I think I remembered the sentiment without recalling the exact passage. Pretty heavy stuff for a kid to read.
DeleteThis is all discombobulating. I can't think of a more apt word for this.
DeleteHow about "diabolical disorientation"?
DeleteAssuming he actually said this, and said it in a sound state of mind: we must always remember that Benedict was a Post-Conciliar pope - albeit the best Post-Conciliar Pope. He will not be confused with Pius XII, or even Leo XIII.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these inane musings I refuse to retreat into fear and panic. They are shocking, yes, but after the monstrous evil of Amoris Laetitia, and the ensuing crickets I understand the world is spiralling out of control, for now.
ReplyDeleteMid eastern Christians, underground Chinese Christians, Cuban Christians and faithful western Christians have all been betrayed by Rome at some level.
Our Lady is watching.
I am not in the least surprised
ReplyDeleteIf you ever read the late Fr Villa - he saw through Pope B's theology and said it was heretical - subjectively it may not be, but objectively there were huge errors - suggest you read his final pamphlet before he died
It's a whopper
I had sleepless nights about it
If true
Dominie....could you please provide a link to this?...I've tried binging every possible combination and all I can come up with is Fr. Villa's expose of Paul VI. I would VERY much like to read what he had to say about Benedict.
DeleteWow. Just, wow. I admit, now I'm dying to know. There seem two possibilities.
ReplyDeleteOne, B16 was not the man nor the pope we thought, and not only did he abandon us to the wolves, he has hardly looked back, he is too busy looking at his own experiences and feelings, or, he did not write this, and our pope and cabal are even more controlling and evil than we imagined, and are using him as their own personal hand puppet.
Hm. Which one do you prefer? Either way, we lose, but I admit, I'd like to know which door to Hell we have passed through.
Apt analysis, Kathleen. Both prospects are chilling. However, it does seem these musings are so banal--so unlike Benedict. But it would take a lot of bad men and a very concerted effort to get away with this if it were fraud.
DeleteSt Michael, defend us in battle.
Would it Sandpiper, I really don't know, but someone probably does. He does not seem mentally infirm, so what could be the explanation for his sudden overlap with more Francis-style musings. Food for thought. (and indigestion)
DeleteWhy do people put so much faith in Benedict?
ReplyDeleteBecause after being fed crumbs from 1978-2005 we were served delicious Black Forest cake with the finest coffee. Empty calories?
DeleteI'm a convert. Was in RCIA under Benedict.
DeleteBased on what you say, and I think you are right, Catholics are like the starving man who will eat a fly-ridden bloated road kill.
They should be reading their Bible and the documents of the perennial Magesterium of the Church, and spend far less time putting faith in post-Vatican 2 Popes.
Good advice. Yet who among us can resist the pull of an apparently traditionalist pope, even if it turns out it was more illusion than reality? Sandpiper, it was a yummy meal while it lasted, now we are back to Valdemar's road kill scraps. Eat up!
DeleteAlas the pain you must endure by suffering fools gladly. Better throw out your CCC and other folderol being passed off by Pope Benedict XVI. It must be comforting to be morally superior to such a scheming villain... safe too to put those who disagree with you in little boxes labored trads, mods, neocons et al, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. My, hasn't all this been interesting and uplifting? Yes, really gives our spiritual growth and love of one another real impetus. Such love as I feel here ...
DeleteOh dear, an error! Please feel free to edit! Needs must when the devil drives.🤓
DeleteWere not the Bear not completely cynical by now, some meter somewhere in him would show a needle bouncing toward the red. And, sorry, but Pope Benedict, too, was a man of his age. Good pope, bad pope, they are all going to be picked from the same, rotten tree. Welcome to the new normal.
ReplyDeleteI'll second this. When even a man who was probably Teilhardian (see The War Against Being, article 17) can pass for ultra-orthodox, this kind of thing is entirely plausible. Even if he actually said it, it doesn't make things all that much worse. Just another grain on Sorites' heap.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWe must beware false thongs!
DeleteSorry, I'm overdone. Good night.
What a clever puss who doesn't make typos or have the imposition of auto correct. RIP
DeletePray for Pope Benedict!
ReplyDeleteOh good grief! I'm sorry that my first comment on this blog, which I've appreciated for a year or so, must offer the sound effect of *horrified* laughter. Not aimed at the host but those commenters, so familiar from the same sites I read that I recognize all the 'names.' You will claim that Pope "Emeritus" BXVI is drugged or compelled in some way to make these remarkable statements, somehow against his will? It is utterly unbelievable that the 'informed remnant'' still clings to these absurdities. The journalist who recorded Ratzinger's upcoming-in-English ''Last Testament" is reputable enough to have filmed some of his interview time with our former Pope. I hope, for ya'lls sake, he did so and that some proof you'll accept can be offered. I'm not a "sede" but their derision can't possibly be stronger than my own. That these absurd, banal, irreligious sentiments are a surprising/coerced departure from the real heart of our former Pope Benedict...do some research, people, and weep. He did abandon us to the wolves because he was always a pack member, albeit a sometimes reluctant hunter, and he won't help us now. Yes, we should pray the more for him. I'm personally not holy enough to pray for much more than that you fellow 'trads' will wake up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! I think I agree with you about Benedict, but I don't think the counter-view - that he's under some sort of control or compulsion - is unreasonable. These are awful times and ANY theory as to what's really going on will be disturbing and unsatisfactory for one reason or another. That was part of my (badly made) point. But we can all agree that things are very bad. If we are faithful Catholics, then we must believe there will be a turn. But when?
DeleteYou're absolutely right. Mr. Vennari at Catholic Family News was saying this from the onset.
DeleteFor those interested, purchase Mr. Vennari's 2-CD lecture called "A Look at Benedict XVI"
I don't believe it's Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Heaven only knows if the so-called last pamphlet that he supposedly wrote was written by his own hand...? I don't put anything by the evil doers hanging around the Vatican. This is Not how he thinks or talks or acts. PERIOD! .
ReplyDeletehttps://akacatholic.com/today-it-is-confirmed-benedict-sold-his-soul/
ReplyDeleteWatch the video from the 34:30 mark to 36:00.
Archbishop Ganswein makes the diamond shaped Masonic hand gesture and Benedict makes the same exact one back. Then Ganswein stops his hand gesture and relaxes.
Pope Benedict would never, never
ReplyDeletespeak like that. EVER!!