The private secretary of Benedict XVI has revealed that he was in effect sacked as head of the papal household amid tensions between the former pope and his successor.
Supporters of Francis fear the revelation, in a book due to be published on Thursday, could be the opening salvo from his conservative opponents following the Pope Emeritus’s death.
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, who was appointed in 2012 before Benedict resigned, said he clashed with Francis over a book to which the former pope contributed and which appeared to pre-judge the teaching on priestly celibacy of his successor. “You remain prefect, but from tomorrow don’t come to work,” Gänswein quotes Francis as telling him.
According to Gänswein, Benedict made an ironic comment on the development, telling his private secretary: “It seems Pope Francis doesn’t trust me any more and wants you to act as my custodian.
“That’s right . . . but am I a custodian or a prison guard?” the archbishop writes that he replied to Benedict.
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The book, Nothing but the truth: My life beside Benedict XVI, is part of a media blitz by the man who worked as secretary and carer for Benedict for almost 20 years.
It also includes an interview with the German Catholic weekly Tagespost, published on the day of Benedict’s death. In it Gänswein, 66, said Francis’s restrictions on the Latin mass had “broken the heart” of his predecessor. He also gave a TV interview on the circumstances surrounding Benedict’s 2013 resignation, which was broadcast on Thursday to coincide with his funeral.
Vatican observers have commented that Benedict’s death at the age of 95 could embolden the Pope’s critics to speak out, while increasing the possibility that Francis, 86, might himself retire.
In the book, written with the Italian Catholic journalist Saverio Gaeta, Gänswein describes his frustration at being eased out of his role in the new Vatican establishment and the brusque way he was treated by Francis.
Gänswein said that although Francis had chosen to keep him on as prefect of the papal household, he had been increasingly circumvented in his responsibilities because Francis preferred to make use of his own deputy, Father Leonardo Sapienza.
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Gänswein recalls his embarrassment at being excluded from a papal visit to the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, having been told in front of the commanders of the Swiss Guard and Vatican police, as well as an assortment of the Holy See’s chauffeurs, that his presence was not required.
He claims he then had to field questions from the leaders of Sant’Egidio, who had not been informed and feared he had taken against them.
Gänswein complained to Pope Francis that he had undermined his authority and left him feeling humiliated. “He answered me that I was right and that he hadn’t been aware of the problem. He apologised, but then added that humiliations were good for one.”
Gänswein has previously said he did not approve of Benedict’s retirement and tried to talk him out of it. He also revealed that he would have preferred candidates other than Francis to succeed Benedict.
