Portrait of Pope Francis
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Pope Francis on Benedict XVI

Deeply respectful successor (strong)

TL;DR

Pope Francis consistently portrays his relationship with Benedict XVI as one of profound respect, loyalty, and support, contrary to public speculation.

Key Points

  • He paid tribute to Benedict XVI during the funeral homily on January 5, 2023, asking the faithful to commend him to the Father's hands.

  • He stated that Benedict XVI told him, "I support you. Maybe I don't understand, but I support you," regarding controversies over civil unions for gay couples.

  • In the 2005 conclave, Francis revealed that then-Cardinal Ratzinger was his own candidate because the Church required a pope to maintain "healthy equilibrium" after John Paul II.

Summary

Pope Francis has publicly characterized his relationship with his predecessor, Benedict XVI, as intensely personal, marked by mutual respect, and characterized by solidarity, especially in light of supposed tensions created by others. Through a book-length interview, he revealed that Benedict never directly opposed his decisions, but would instead broaden the perspective on matters Francis raised, offering support even when cardinals accused the current Pope of heresy regarding his stance on civil unions for same-sex couples. Francis stated that Benedict XVI always defended him against critics, calling the narrative of division between their supporters "nonsense". He also noted his predecessor’s resignation was a "very responsible" act of integrity, not an abandonment of power.

The current pontiff also shared context regarding tensions with certain figures in Benedict’s entourage, particularly his private secretary, whose actions Francis found to be a "lack of nobility and of humanity" when a book attributed to the retired Pope was published on the day of Benedict’s funeral. Despite these external conflicts, Francis emphasized that Benedict, who he described as a "holy man" and a "meek man," never interfered with his governance and continued to support him until the end. Furthermore, Francis revealed that Cardinal Ratzinger—the future Benedict XVI—was his preferred candidate in the 2005 conclave, as the Church needed a pope of "healthy equilibrium" after the dynamic papacy of John Paul II.

Key Quotes

“He was a man who dared to resign and, from that moment, continued to accompany the Church and his successor.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Pope Francis has consistently expressed deep admiration and a relationship of profound respect and solidarity with his predecessor, Benedict XVI. He views Benedict as a holy, gentle, and courageous man who always offered him support. He has dismissed public rumors of tension between the two popes as baseless.

According to Pope Francis, Benedict XVI never explicitly stated disagreement with his actions or policies. Instead, when presented with a difficulty, the retired Pope would often broaden Francis's perspective by suggesting other elements to consider. He asserted that Benedict never withdrew his support.

The current pontiff expressed pain over the publication of a book by Benedict’s secretary on the day of the funeral, calling the timing a "lack of nobility and of humanity." He subsequently took action by dissolving the papal secretariat, the role held by the former secretary.