PopeWatch has long thought that the alleged amity between the Pope Emeritus and his successor is basically a sham. The flap over Cardinal Sarah’s book might be evidence of this:
“The arrogance, the violence of language, the disrespect and the inhuman contempt for Benedict XVI are diabolical and cover the Church with a mantle of sadness and shame,” Cardinal Sarah said.
“These people demolish the Church and its profound nature,” he added.
Critics of Benedict XVI have complained that the former Pontiff meddled in Church affairs by contributing the afterword to the German edition of the book, in which Benedict praises Cardinal Sarah and thanks Pope Francis for appointing the African prelate to his current post as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
In his afterword to Cardinal Sarah’s book, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, Benedict XVI wrote that the liturgy is in “good hands” with the Guinean cardinal, while also praising Sarah for his prayer life.
Sarah, Benedict writes, speaks “out of the depths of silence with the Lord, out of his interior union with him, and thus really has something to say to each one of us.”
“We should be grateful to Pope Francis for appointing such a spiritual teacher as head of the congregation that is responsible for the celebration of the liturgy in the Church,” Benedict writes.
The last line of the afterword reads, “With Cardinal Sarah, a master of silence and of interior prayer, the liturgy is in good hands.”
Critics were quick to accuse the former pope of interfering in Church politics and trying to undermine Pope Francis.
One, the Italian liturgist Andrea Grillo, a longtime detractor of Pope Benedict, claims that the former pope has behaved in a “scandalous way” by writing the afterword in praise of Cardinal Sarah and his book, accusing him of “clericalism” and “hypocrisy.”
“It’s as if Ratzinger suddenly renounced his renunciation and wishes to influence the decisions of his successor,” Grillo declared.
Go here to read the rest. It would truly be remarkable if Pope Benedict were happy with the current pontificate which is a bearded Spock universe of his pontificate. He is not going to express himself directly for fear of bringing about a formal schism. However, indirect means of expressing displeasure have been ever a Vatican specialty and Pope Benedict is nothing if not an old Vatican hand.
Benedict’s rather effusive praise of his successor in his post pontificate interview with Peter Seewald suggests he is playing both sides against the middle. I think B16 giving interviews and writing afterwords to books is a bad idea in my opinion. I think it would be best if he said nothing at all.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is still a bishop, and is still entitled to speak as he thinks fit – because he has handed over the papacy does not remove his right and duty to speak as any other bishop has the right to do.
I am part way through reading Cdl. Robert Sarah’s book, “God ro Nothing” – and I cannt help but be hugely impressed by this amazing man. I will be getting his new book, and pray that he will be elevated to the papacy on the passing of Pope Francis. We would then get clear and definitive speaking, and most certainly in line with Church doctrine – not the confusing and obfuscating language we get now.
We don’t know what a former Pope is supposed to do or not do. None of us have any experience with this. The best we can do is by analogy and it seems to me that the closest parallel is with retired bishops. Here in Philadelphia, we have had a lot of retired bishops around and their conduct was as they see fit. Some were really vocal like Krol. Some were dead silent like Bevilacqua. My point is only that there does not seem to BE a standard, a general view of of how retired bishops should behave. Against that backdrop, I think that Benedict should be given some latitude. Expecting him to remain silent as everything he believes about the liturgy and the importance of theology to the life of the Church is torn asunder is unreasonable.
“He is not going to express himself directly for fear of bringing about a formal schism.”
Pope Benedict should speak truthfully, forcefully and frequently. If this results in a schism so be it.
As a human being, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is free to speak his opinion. Pope Benedict’s opinion said nothing against anyone, but only in praise of Cardinal Sarah. Those who would find fault where there is no fault are seeking to inflict their opinion by intimidation.
The pope ought to have taken the name, Boniface IX.