POPE FRANCIS ON THE DEATH OF BENEDICT
Pope Francis Says Those Who Use Benedict
To Criticize Him Have No Ethics
To Criticize Him Have No Ethics
In an airborne press conference on February 5, 2023, on his trip back to Rome from his pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan, Pope Francis responded to a question about his relationship with emeritus Pope Benedict. Given the background that a number of right-wing Catholics used the death of Benedict as an occasion to point out alleged tensions between Francis and Bendict, a reporter asked Francis if he thought that, after the death of Benedict, his mission would be more difficult.
Pope Francis responded by emphatically stating the Benedict was not saddened by the decisions he had made. He said, ‘I was able to talk about everything with Benedict and to change his opinions. He was always at my side, supporting [me], and if he had some difficulties with me he said it and we talked and there were no problems.” Going further, Francis stated that actually “Some of the things that are said, that Benedict was saddened at this or something else, are invented tales.” In fact, he said that he had actually consulted with Benedict on some decisions and that Benedict was in agreement.
Using some of his strongest language ever Pope Francis condemned those who tried to manipulate the death of emeritus Pope Benedict. People, Francis said, who instrumentalize the death of such a good person “have no ethics.” “They are of a party, not of the church.” But then, in a cooler moment, he returned to his more merciful self. Francis said, “Let’s drop it; these things will fade away or go forward as has happened in history.” He concluded this part of the interview by saying, “I wanted to state clearly who Benedict was; he was not saddened.
(Gerard O’Connell, Pope Francis: Critics who used Benedict’s Death “Have No Ethics,” America, February 5, 2023).
In an airborne press conference on February 5, 2023, on his trip back to Rome from his pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan, Pope Francis responded to a question about his relationship with emeritus Pope Benedict. Given the background that a number of right-wing Catholics used the death of Benedict as an occasion to point out alleged tensions between Francis and Bendict, a reporter asked Francis if he thought that, after the death of Benedict, his mission would be more difficult.
Pope Francis responded by emphatically stating the Benedict was not saddened by the decisions he had made. He said, ‘I was able to talk about everything with Benedict and to change his opinions. He was always at my side, supporting [me], and if he had some difficulties with me he said it and we talked and there were no problems.” Going further, Francis stated that actually “Some of the things that are said, that Benedict was saddened at this or something else, are invented tales.” In fact, he said that he had actually consulted with Benedict on some decisions and that Benedict was in agreement.
Using some of his strongest language ever Pope Francis condemned those who tried to manipulate the death of emeritus Pope Benedict. People, Francis said, who instrumentalize the death of such a good person “have no ethics.” “They are of a party, not of the church.” But then, in a cooler moment, he returned to his more merciful self. Francis said, “Let’s drop it; these things will fade away or go forward as has happened in history.” He concluded this part of the interview by saying, “I wanted to state clearly who Benedict was; he was not saddened.
(Gerard O’Connell, Pope Francis: Critics who used Benedict’s Death “Have No Ethics,” America, February 5, 2023).