Out today, it could give Pope Francis’ conservative critics a boost. He’s upset.
No, he is not available for an interview. Georg Gänswein tells the ARD studio in Rome via a message from his iPhone that he “unfortunately cannot comply” with the request for an interview. Silence before the possible storm that the book of the former private secretary Benedict XVI. could trigger at its release today.
The 331-page work, which will initially only be published in Italian, has been announced by the publisher as a tell-all book and has already caused irritation in Rome, says the Vatican expert for Corriere della Sera, Gian Guido Vecchi: Pope Francis is “very bitter about much to do with the book coming out and given the pre-publications that have been there”.
Francis, who was little amused by the book, spoke to Gänswein during a private audience on Monday – since then, Benedict’s longtime companion has been silent in public.
Benedict in a bright light
Gänswein expresses himself all the more extensively and in detail in his book, which is published today. The impression after pre-reading: First and foremost, the work with the title “Nient’altro che la verità” (translated: “Nothing but the truth”) is intended to let his longtime, paternal master, Benedict XVI, appear in great splendour.
In parts, however, Gänswein’s book also reads as if the recently deceased Benedict is to be positioned against his successor Francis. Vecchi also says: “The fact that they want to use Benedict XVI post mortem as a standard-bearer against Francis is what annoys and embitters the Pope.”
Among other things, Gänswein describes on several pages that Benedict did not agree with Francis’ decision to limit the celebration of the traditional mass to Latin. According to Gänswein, Benedict is also said to have been irritated by the fact that the current pope did not seek direct dialogue with his conservative critics.
A step to the top of Francis’ opponents?
It is precisely these conservative critics who should now feel strengthened in their opposition to Francis by the book by the former Benedict private secretary. Does Archbishop Gänswein want to put his work at the forefront of this opposition to the current pope?
Vatican expert Vecchi has doubts: “I don’t think his goal is to lead the opposition to Francis.” Also because it can be assumed that not many would follow the German archbishop, even from the conservative cardinals.
Because, says Vecchi, “many of them were very perplexed by this operation.” Among other things, there is criticism that Gänswein quotes in his book from private letters from Benedict to Francis.
A resignation with repercussions
Vecchi believes that Benedict’s longtime private secretary could be driven by personal injury, among other things, in his book. The de facto removal as prefect of the papal house by Francis in 2020 hurt the 66-year-old German.
In his book, Gänswein writes verbatim: He was “shocked and speechless” when Francis informed him of this decision.
Centrifugal forces in the Vatican
Even if Gänswein doesn’t want to become the new leader of the anti-Francis movement, Vecchi believes that the fuss surrounding the book could be a foretaste of the centrifugal forces that Benedict’s death in the Vatican would unleash.
Benedict, explains the Vatican expert, was “an element of balance”. “Given his rigor and church spirit, he never allowed his name to be used against Francis.”
This behavior slowed down the most extreme of the Ratzinger supporters. Now that this brake no longer exists, Vecchi concludes, “they can use Ratzinger as a flag bearer without Ratzinger being able to defend himself against it”.
It is still unclear when the controversial Gänswein book will appear in German.
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