‘ Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed,’ biographer says in new interview

Michie · Jan 1, 2024

On the eve of the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s death, his biographer, Peter Seewald, raised serious concerns about how Pope Francis is managing the legacy of his predecessor.

“Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed several times,” Seewald said in an interview published Dec. 27.

Pope Francis may have written “nice letters” to his predecessor and described him as a “great pope,” Seewald told the New Daily Compass. However, in practice, he said, he has “erased much of what was precious and dear to Ratzinger.”

“If you really speak of a ‘great pope’ out of conviction, shouldn’t you do everything you can to cultivate his legacy? Just as Benedict XVI did with regard to John Paul II? As we can see today, Pope Francis has, in fact, done very little to remain in continuity with his predecessors,” Seewald said.

Instead, the South American and Jesuit pope wanted to erase much of “what was dear to Ratzinger,” according to the Benedict biographer.

‘Stabbed in the heart’

Continued below.

‘Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed,’ biographer says in new interview

Pope Benedict XVI’s biographer, Peter Seewald, has raised concerns about how Pope Francis is managing the legacy of his predecessor.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Wolseley · Jan 1, 2024

article said:
A German cardinal in the Catholic Church remarked that Pope Benedict would never have approved Pope Francis' recent edict allowing priests to bless people in same-sex relationships.

MSN

I'm sure he wouldn't have.

article said:
“Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed.

I'm sure he was.

article said:
“I think Benedict’s death was instrumentalized by people who want to serve their own interests,” Pope Francis said during the in-flight press conference on Feb. 5.

Looked in a mirror lately, Frank?

Chrystal-J · Jan 1, 2024

I wish Benedict was still Pope.

a_ntv · Jan 1, 2024

As a Catholic I think that the actions of Pope Francis shall have us Catholic to reconsider what a pope is.
Once the time, still in 1700, the pope appointed bishops the responsables of Curia with the concourse and advice of cardinals in concistories.
Now, and notwithstanding the CVII, Francis reigns as a dictator.

Michie · Jan 1, 2024

Has anyone read his prayer intentions for this month? A bit of a head scratcher.

Wolseley · Jan 1, 2024

Chrystal-J said:
I wish Benedict was still Pope.

I wish John Paul II was still Pope.

mourningdove~ · Jan 1, 2024

If this story (below) is true, Benedict resigned in faith, believing he was doing what God wanted him to do.

Now, this may sound strange to the natural man ...
but sometimes God does have us to do things that may not make sense to us, or those around us.

Ex-pope Benedict says God told him to resign during 'mystical experience'

Pope Francis's predecessor breaks silence to contradict explanation he gave to cardinals when he stepped down

www.theguardian.com

God is All Knowing, and He knows what His plans are for the future.
He knows exactly how to accomplish His purposes.
And apparently, in this case, it was needed that Benedict resign.

Similarly, we currently have a president that is bad for America.
But if one believes in the Providence of God, then one understands that it is providential that Biden be president at this time.
And God's purposes and plans for mankind continue to be fulfilled, even as we watch ...

chevyontheriver · Jan 1, 2024

Michie said:
Has anyone read his prayer intentions for this month? A bit of a head scratcher.

For The Gift Of Diversity In The Church
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit helps us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

That one?

Michie · Jan 1, 2024

chevyontheriver said:
For The Gift Of Diversity In The Church
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit helps us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

That one?

Yep…

Cosmic Charlie · Jan 2, 2024

a_ntv said:
As a Catholic I think that the actions of Pope Francis shall have us Catholic to reconsider what a pope is.
Once the time, still in 1700, the pope appointed bishops the responsables of Curia with the concourse and advice of cardinals in concistories.
Now, and notwithstanding the CVII, Francis reigns as a dictator.

This strikes me as a very odd thing to say. Pope's get to be dictators. The Catholic Church is NOT a democracy. I can't tell you how many times I heard that in high school. Paul overruled the John's committee on contraception for no other reason than he wanted to. JP II (an old cold warrior anti-commie if there ever was one) put a stop to the South American led "Liberation Gospel" movement like a boss, again because he thought it was too much like commie social philosophy or something, I don't think he ever explained himself on the subject. I mean, he didn't really have to.

Bennie loved the Latin Mass and regional European Catholicism. Well, he was a central European and central European's have had controlled the Curia and the Church in general for, what now 500 years? Francis is a South American Jesuit who had his liberal social Gospel cut out from underneath him by Central European's. You don't see him complaining.

Bennie and Frankie are two COMPLETELY different people. I wouldn't be surprised (all reports to the contrary) if they didn't along. And why one pope should be responsible for cleaning up the rep of the last one is anyone's guess but I don't get it.

Why the curia decided to put Frankie in charge, I don't know but they did. I just get to follow. That what I was told when I was trying to figure out Humane Vitae and why Paul just, you know, took 5 years of research and argumentation from bishops, nuns, priests and lay people and ignored it.

Michie · Jan 2, 2024

chevyontheriver said:
For The Gift Of Diversity In The Church
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit helps us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

That one?

Another Traditional Latin Mass cancelled! Happy New Year! – UPDATED… sad | Fr. Z's Blog

wdtprs.com

chevyontheriver · Jan 2, 2024

Michie said:
Another Traditional Latin Mass cancelled! Happy New Year! – UPDATED… sad | Fr. Z's Blog

wdtprs.com

Incongruous. Par for the course.

RileyG · Jan 2, 2024

hmmmm....I'm very interested in learning more.

IcyChain · Jan 3, 2024

Cosmic Charlie said:
This strikes me as a very odd thing to say. Pope's get to be dictators. The Catholic Church is NOT a democracy. I can't tell you how many times I heard that in high school. Paul overruled the John's committee on contraception for no other reason than he wanted to. JP II (an old cold warrior anti-commie if there ever was one) put a stop to the South American led "Liberation Gospel" movement like a boss, again because he thought it was too much like commie social philosophy or something, I don't think he ever explained himself on the subject. I mean, he didn't really have to.

Bennie loved the Latin Mass and regional European Catholicism. Well, he was a central European and central European's have had controlled the Curia and the Church in general for, what now 500 years? Francis is a South American Jesuit who had his liberal social Gospel cut out from underneath him by Central European's. You don't see him complaining.

Bennie and Frankie are two COMPLETELY different people. I wouldn't be surprised (all reports to the contrary) if they didn't along. And why one pope should be responsible for cleaning up the rep of the last one is anyone's guess but I don't get it.

Why the curia decided to put Frankie in charge, I don't know but they did. I just get to follow. That what I was told when I was trying to figure out Humane Vitae and why Paul just, you know, took 5 years of research and argumentation from bishops, nuns, priests and lay people and ignored it.

The pope has full governmental power over the entire church. Everyone knows that but many do not accept it in practice and give the magisterium "religious submission" only when they like what it has to say. Many so-called liberals and so-called traditionalists are similar in that respect.

zippy2006 · Jan 3, 2024

Cosmic Charlie said:
Pope's get to be dictators. The Catholic Church is NOT a democracy.

This is such a strained line. Apparently we have to choose between democracy and totalitarian dictatorship, as if the history of the Catholic Church reflects this idea in any way whatsoever.

"Paul VI sided with the minority report and JPII opposed liberation theology, therefore popes have a license for autocratic dictatorship." :scratch:

chevyontheriver · Jan 3, 2024

zippy2006 said:
This is such a strained line. Apparently we have to choose between democracy and totalitarian dictatorship, as if the history of the Catholic Church reflects this idea in any way whatsoever.

"Paul VI sided with the minority report and JPII opposed liberation theology, therefore popes have a license for autocratic dictatorship."

They may have the license for it but that does not mean they ought to regularly exercise it. Our Lord has every right to be a dictator but does not use that right.

Popes Paul VI and John Paul II never had books written about them called 'The Dictator Pope'. I don't remember anything like that for Pius XII or John XXIII either. They did call pope Benedict a Rottweiller though. Point is even if a pope has the right to be a dictator, few have used it. A few notorious ones in the late middle ages, but mostly not.

Cosmic Charlie · Jan 4, 2024

chevyontheriver said:
They may have the license for it but that does not mean they ought to regularly exercise it. Our Lord has every right to be a dictator but does not use that right.

Popes Paul VI and John Paul II never had books written about them called 'The Dictator Pope'. I don't remember anything like that for Pius XII or John XXIII either. They did call pope Benedict a Rottweiller though. Point is even if a pope has the right to be a dictator, few have used it. A few notorious ones in the late middle ages, but mostly not.

Aww, c'mon, really ?

Pope Pious got tied to NAZIs
Pope Paul silenced an entire generation of theologians on contraception.
JPII and Bennie got all involved in sex abuse unpleasantness.

I think everybody just Loved John - he was very charismatic.

...that's just off the top of my head. Sore people write stuff all the time about every Pope that ever lived. Some of it's true.

The truth of the matter is, whether you like it or not, you really can't do much to stop a Pope from taking any action he wants. One even dug up his dead predecessor to put him on trial. Weird, but doable.

The problem is, when the Pope does something I don't like, my only means of rebellion is to call him names.

Catholicism is NOT a democracy. (Sucks, don't it ?) - can I say "sucks" on this board? - if not, sorry and I'll remove it.

zippy2006 · Jan 4, 2024

Cosmic Charlie said:
Pope Pious got tied to NAZIs
Pope Paul silenced an entire generation of theologians on contraception.
JPII and Bennie got all involved in sex abuse unpleasantness.

Wow, brilliant stuff, here. You don't even know how to spell Pius' name. :doh:

Apparently if you are pope during WWII then you must be a dictator. And if you wrestle with the sex abuse crisis, then you must be a dictator. At least your second claim isn't prima facie absurd.

chevyontheriver · Jan 4, 2024

Cosmic Charlie said:
Aww, c'mon, really ?

Pope Pious got tied to NAZIs

Pius XII, the actual author of Mit Brennender Sorge (You've read it no doubt) was later identified falsely as 'Hitler's Pope'. That has finally been put to rest by Rabbi David Dalin.

Cosmic Charlie said:
Pope Paul silenced an entire generation of theologians on contraception.

You mean the ones who published their refusal of Humanae Vitae in the New York Times on the very day Humanae Vitae came out and they hadn't even had time to read the encyclical before they refused it? Remember Charlie Curran? As far as I know he wan't cosmic like you are. I got to meet him way back and there is no way he should have been a Catholic theologian.

Cosmic Charlie said:
JPII and Bennie got all involved in sex abuse unpleasantness.

JPII just couldn't believe a priest could be so depraved as to do such things. And he had experience with Polish Communists making false claims about priests. So he had a big blind spot. Bennie finally worked to expose and remove as much filth as he could. Far more than pope Francis who seems to shield and protect sexual abusers as long as he can before reluctantly throwing them under the bus.

Cosmic Charlie said:
I think everybody just Loved John - he was very charismatic.

Loved.

Cosmic Charlie said:
...that's just off the top of my head. Sore people write stuff all the time about every Pope that ever lived. Some of it's true.

The truth of the matter is, whether you like it or not, you really can't do much to stop a Pope from taking any action he wants. One even dug up his dead predecessor to put him on trial. Weird, but doable.

The problem is, when the Pope does something I don't like, my only means of rebellion is to call him names.

Catholicism is NOT a democracy. (Sucks, don't it ?) - can I say "sucks" on this board? - if not, sorry and I'll remove it.

They have full and ordinary power. They do not regularly wield full and ordinary power well. But then not all get to be known as a 'Dictator Pope' either. It's not at all synodal. But then why bother with being synodal when it's so much faster to dictate?

zippy2006 · Jan 4, 2024

chevyontheriver said:
You mean the ones who published their refusal of Humanae Vitae in the New York Times on the very day Humanae Vitae came out and they hadn't even had time to read the encyclical before they refused it?

Indeed.

chevyontheriver said:
Remember Charlie Curran? As far as I know he wan't cosmic like you are. I got to meet him way back and there is no way he should have been a Catholic theologian.

Even in Curran's book, Loyal Dissent, he does not view the pope and CDF as dictators (they dialogued with him and even granted an in-person meeting to argue his case). On the contrary, after meeting with Ratzinger he actually comes to a level of respect for him. This is a standard tale of those who dealt with that magisterium, which was firm but polite. Francis is nothing like this.

The other thing is that Curran was almost certainly in the wrong, as I think many progressives would also grant. The idea that someone could openly flout and oppose binding magisterial decisions the way Curran did, and teach a dissenting position as the Catholic position, doesn't make any sense. It's not a matter of dictatorship; if Curran had it his way the Magisterium would have no power at all short of ex cathedra decisions.

‘ Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed,’ biographer says in new interview

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