Damning indictment of Francis by Benedict's biographer. Francis the Fork Tongued

Seewald contradicts Francis: Benedict was not a “transitional pope”

Was Benedict XVI. just a “transitional pope”? His successor Francis recently expressed this assessment. Now Benedict's biographer Peter Seewald contradicts the Pontiff and accuses him of "double-tracking" in his dealings with his predecessor.

The author Peter Seewald has assessed Pope Benedict XVI. (2005-2013) as “transitional pope” was contradicted by his successor Francis. Benedict XVI In the almost eight years of his pontificate, he set “decisive course” and made history as pope, said Seewald, who wrote a biography of Benedict XVI in 2020. published on Monday in an interview with the “Catholic Sunday newspaper for the Diocese of Regensburg” (this week’s edition).

“Many of the reforms that made Pope Francis popular were actually initiated by Benedict XVI,” Seewald continued. Examples he cited included the introduction of open synods of bishops and the restructuring of the Vatican's finances. "In addition, he is considered the greatest theologian who ever sat on the chair of Peter and as the modern doctor of the church." Benedict XVI made sure that the ship of Peter stayed on course. "Last but not least, his resignation, the first of a truly ruling pontiff, has changed the papacy in a way that it has never been changed in modern times. A 'transitional pope'? Well," explained Seewald.

Francis: After John Paul II, no change was initially possible

In a recently published book of interviews with the Vatican correspondent of the Spanish newspaper "ABC", Javier Martinez-Broca, Francis said with regard to the 2005 conclave that after the upheavals under John Paul II (1978-2005), who as Pope was dynamic, needed a Pope "who maintains a healthy balance, a transitional Pope". Against this background, Joseph Ratzinger was the only one “who could be Pope at that time.” According to Francis, if he had already been elected pope at the time, he himself would not have been able to achieve anything. At that time, no change in the Church was possible.

With regard to Francis' statements, Seewald said that he "always has two tracks." At one point he praises Benedict and even calls him a “great pope,” then again he belittles him, calling him a grandfather, a fatherly friend or even a “transitional pope.” This duality can be explained by the fact that Francis wanted to break “from the continuity of the popes” and cause chaos from the beginning. "He demonstratively showed who was the master of the house by removing the access to the Old Mass that Benedict had liberalized. The Pope Emeritus had to find out about this from the newspaper. This was due to the supposedly 'warm relationship' between the two," continued Seewald.

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Cathcon: Pope Francis thinks he is so powerful that he can revise the facts of history.  He does speak self-serving nonsense