Vatican News this morning seems to think so by giving this story a lot of prominence. I wonder what that says? Of course the headline perpetuates another conspiracy theory that there is only one pope, but which one?
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: “There are not two Popes”
By Vatican News
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s resignation from the papacy, which became effective eight years ago, [28 February 2013] was a “difficult choice,” but made “in full conscience” – one which he has not regretted at all.
Once again, the Pope Emeritus, albeit in a subdued voice, repeats what he has already said several times to dismiss the “somewhat fanatical friends” who continue to see “conspiracy theories” behind his decision to leave the Chair of St. Peter by retiring for reasons of old age.
This was reiterated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
A difficult but correct decision
“It was a difficult decision,” explains the Pope Emeritus, "but I made it in full conscience, and I believe I did well. Some of my friends who are a bit ‘fanatical’ are still angry; they did not want to accept my choice. I am thinking about the conspiracy theories which followed it: those who said it was because of the Vatileaks scandal, those who said it was because of the case of the conservative Lefebvrian theologian, Richard Williamson. They did not want to believe it was a conscious decision, but my conscience is clear.”
Papal visit to Iraq
In the interview, Benedict XVI also spoke about Pope Francis' upcoming Apostolic Journey to Iraq.
“I think it is a very important trip," he said. "Unfortunately, it comes at a very difficult time that also makes it a dangerous trip for security reasons and also because of Covid-19. There is also the unstable Iraqi situation. I will accompany Francis with my prayers.”
3 comments:
The idea is small, very small.
The "big" thing is the number of nut cases who subscribe the the Benedict-is-still-pope nonsense.
I am no fan of Pope Francis but I do not doubt he is the Pope. The interview seems very superficial and Pope Benedict's responses do not seem those of the man we knew several years ago. Biden is "observant" like Clinton was "observant" running around using the Bible as a prop after he was caught being naughty in the Oval Office.
In the pre-Vatican II sense, piety meant everything, such as going to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, receiving Holy Communion once a year (along with Penance) during the Easter Season. Many Catholics did these things but their lives were far from the Lord, be it being a criminal, adulterer, thief, closeted gay person or whatever, Even public sinners like mafia bosses went to Mass each Sunday and were observant Catholics in the model I describe in this comment.
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