Vatican media director denies Benedict was forced out

The worst affront to the person and today to the memory of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI from 2005 to 2013, is to revive the incoherent and ridiculous theories on the abdication-non-abdication that he allegedly initiated because he was forced, while maintaining for himself the "munus" and abandoning only the "ministerium" that is, the active exercise of the Pontificate. A sesquipedal nonsense that unfortunately has fascinated not only conspiracy theorists and sedevacantists but also some alleged experts in canon law.

It is an offence and an affront to the person and intelligence of a great theologian, of a great bishop, cardinal and pope such as Joseph Ratzinger, who declared, explained, reiterated repeatedly that he had renounced the Pontificate (as expected the Code of Canon Law) because he no longer felt able to bear the weight of the task due to his age.

The Roman Pontificate is not an eighth sacrament, it does not derive from a special consecration that makes the bishop of Rome "more episcopal" than the other successors of the Apostles. The Roman Pontificate is a pure jurisdiction that is received by accepting the election by the cardinals gathered in Conclave: being elected to the Episcopal chair of Rome gives a universal power of service over the entire Church.

When the Bishop of Rome abdicated, this jurisdiction passes to his successor canonically elected with at least two-thirds of the votes of the Cardinals of the conclave, who since March 2013 has been Francis.

Benedict XVI, as Pope, had declared in advance his unconditional obedience to his successor by meeting all the Cardinals who had arrived in Rome for the last time.

Continuing with the story of abdication-non-abdication is first of all an offense against the intelligence and moral integrity of Benedict XVI, who would never have renounced the Pontificate if he had been pressured to do so (as all his collaborators know they tried to dissuade him) and he carried out this thoughtful act in complete freedom. It is surprising that self-styled "Ratzingerians" who present themselves as nostalgic for the previous Pontificate but end up presenting Benedict XVI as a liar have lent themselves and continue to lend themselves to this work of demolishing Ratzinger's memory.

Translation of a post by Andrea Tornielli  on his Facebook page.  Why does he feel the need to state this at this particular juncture in history?

Cathcon: One does not have to look very far for the putative instrument of coercion.  This is Spiegel's coverage of the resignation of the Munich Vicar General in 2010 following the case of Father Hullermann.  The problem with the official story is that the Statutes governing the Archdiocese at the time (published in a book celebrating a Jubilee for the Archdiocese)  state very clearly that all personnel decisions are the responsibility of the Archbishop alone.