That such a senior figure should essentially countenance a departure from the official line is significant. Essentially, Pope Benedict was a teaching Pope, a theologian and intellectual. His misfortune was to accede to the papacy at a time that there was a power vacuum, in which a number of middle-ranking members of the Roman curia, the Church's civil service, had turned into "little Borgias" as another clerical official put it. Don't take my word for it, this assessment comes from the highest source - the current leader of the Church.
And Pope Francis does not mince his words. He has described the curia as "narcissistic" and "self-referential". This is what Joseph Ratzinger had to deal with. This was what the Pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele said he wanted to expose by photocopying and leaking all those documents.
But Gabriele said his relationship with Pope Benedict was like "father and son". So why did he act in a way that was sure to embarrass a man he was clearly close to? At a certain point he couldn't take it any more," says his lawyer Cristiana Arru, clutching her rosary beads, in only her second ever public interview. He says he saw lies being told. He thought that the Pope was being kept in the dark regarding key events. Gabriele was found guilty of "aggravated theft" and spent three months in custody before being pardoned by the Pope.
But that was not the end of it. The Church's leader set up an inquiry into the whole affair. Three Cardinals produced a page report. But Benedict has stuck to his original explanation, with a documentary, Benedict XVI: in Honor of Truth , providing supporting evidence that the pope emeritus felt he could no longer publicly lead the 1. Meanwhile, he lives out his days writing and praying in the solitude of the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae monastery, the full extent of the circumstances and struggles that drove him from the apex of his calling likely shared only with his Savior.
As Benedict's successor, Francis' liberal and minimalistic beliefs are a stark contrast from Benedict's more traditional practices. The president divided the international community and angered a contingent of American athletes with his attempt to punish the Soviet Union.
Unable to recite his new work on a blindingly bright day, the poet improvised to deliver a memorable moment for the incoming president. The New York City couple were executed for conspiracy to commit espionage in , sparking decades of conspiracy talk that produced new twists in the 21st century. Get an intimate look at the king and his wife — the good, the bad and the naughty. The Great Emancipator was basking in the triumph of a Civil War victory and the promise of rekindled dreams when he met his shocking end.
From his lavish purchases to how he met his ex-wife, Melinda, here are some facts about the Microsoft billionaire. Benedict inherited the fallout of the sexual abuse scandal that was gaining steam Upon ascending to the papacy in April , Benedict was forced to publicly confront the trauma of sexual abuse by Church clergy that had bubbled to the surface after generations of suppression.
By Colin Bertram. By Tim Ott. For many, celibacy is a key part of being a Catholic priest, who is supposed to devote himself to the church and not be distracted by what some consider to be worldly concerns like a wife or a family. For traditionalists, this is about the direction in which Pope Francis is taking the Church.
Some critics regard the idea of allowing married priests in the Amazon as a pretext to abolishing celibacy as a requirement altogether. Despite having vowed to remain "hidden from view" following his sudden retirement in , it is difficult not to regard former Pope Benedict XVI's intervention as a strategically timed appeal to Pope Francis to refrain from changing the rules on celibacy. This is also a collision between the ancient belief that celibacy is exemplified in the life of Christ and the ministry of Apostle Paul, who wrote in his First Epistle to the Corinthians that "I wish all people were like me", and the demands of a modern church that is growing across the Amazon region but where there is a severe shortage of priests.
The Vatican offered no comment on the book nor did they specify when Pope Francis might respond to the proposal. But Pope Francis has indicated, through Papal visits and his appointment of cardinals, that he recognises where the Roman Catholic Church is growing and wants to respond to its needs. His decision on whether to accept the Amazon bishops' request is therefore eagerly awaited and is expected in the next few weeks.
When Pope Benedict resigned in , it was the first time in years that the Catholic Church gained two living popes. Since then, Benedict has largely remained silent on issues of faith, but differences in the two popes' approaches have emerged, with Francis' image as a reformer contrasting with more traditionalist elements within the Church. The first major change came when Pope Benedict wrote a letter last year blaming the Church's sexual abuse scandal on the sexual revolution of the s, in a direct contrast to Francis' public stance.
On a smaller scale, Francis has rejected a number of traditions, including his predecessor's famed red shoes. Public interest in the relationship between the two men has peaked recently with Netflix's release of The Two Popes, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, in December. While its poster says the film was "inspired by true events", some scenes - such as the two men watching football - did not take place and it is unclear how close their relationship is in real life.
Could the Pope say 'yes' to married priests? It's good to talk, but not on mobiles, Pope says. Pope slaps pilgrim's hand after arm yank. Image source, Reuters. Pope Benedict R , who retired in , said he could not remain silent on the issue of priestly celibacy.
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