In a paragraph left out of a Vatican press release on a new book series on Pope Francis' theology, the Pope Emeritus admits to not fully read the 11 volumes.
Continued below.
Full Text of Benedict XVI’s Letter to Msgr. Viganò
This note from pope emeritus Benedict is already being used as a cudgel against faithful Catholics. The note itself has two significant quotes. First is "I applaud this initiative that wants to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice in which Pope Francis is just a practical man without particular theological or philosophical formation, while I have been only a theorist of theology with little understanding of the concrete life of a Christian today."
That is not a prejudice I see many people having, that Benedict did not understand the concrete life of a Christian today, or that Francis was only an uneducated 'practical man'. Francis is not careful in what he says, but that is a different issue. Francis did not answer the dubia, but that is a different issue. Some 'friends of Francis' seem intent on changing the deposit of the faith, but that is a different issue.
Second significant quote is "However, I don’t feel like writing a short and dense theological passage on them because throughout my life it has always been clear that I would write and express myself only on books I had read really well."
Whatever these eleven booklets about Francis say, Benedict has not been able to give them a really good read. He says so. Discounting a bit the point above where he says that the message of Francis is the same except for style and temperment.
But nonetheless this is being used by 'friends of Francis' to whip everyone else into line. If Benedict had carefully read these books he admits he has not read carefully, if Benedict had some tight and compelling things to say in his letter, which was the shortest of notes, perhaps then it would be something for faithful Catholics to take pause. But it's not. It's Benedict saying that it's too much for him at present to enter in in any depth to such a discussion. I miss papa Benedict, but this is papa Benedict saying he is retired and much less engaged. I wish him well. I resent this note of his being used against people like me who have our doubts about the many unclear things Francis has said and will not clarify. I resent this note being used as cover for attempts to deconstruct the teaching of John Paul II. Will Humanae Vitae be done away with? Seems like that is the plan now. And with this note the 'friends of Francis' can claim Benedict is on board with it. I don't think so.
