Secretary tried to persuade Benedict XVI not to resign
October 11, 2013
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary to Pope Benedict XVI, has disclosed that he tried to dissuade the Pope from resigning.
In an interview with the German weekly Bunte, the archbishop said that he was aware of Benedict’s intentions well in advance of the public announcement of his resignation. He said that he argued against resignation, but the Pontiff “was not to be shaken.”
Archbishop Gänswein said that the “Vatileaks” scandal was not a factor in Pope Benedict’s decision. The Pope had already decided, before the scandal reached headline proportions, that his physical decline made it impossible to fulfill the responsibilities of the Petrine office, he said.
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Oct. 20, 2013 9:37 PM ET USA
This was not a "bad" thing. I believe from time to time the Holy Spirit will raise up even a friend who sincerely disagrees in order to solidify the genuine resolve of the heart. I miss Benedict and his unique charisms, but Popes like all men leave their mark and then pass. Ave.
