After he resigned Pope Benedict knew that the Conclave would choose the Pope and he had no guarantees that they would not choose someone antithetical to his policies. No resignation, no Francis. After Francis was Pope, Pope Benedict chose silence and to be trotted out periodically for photo ops with the new Pope, as what Benedict had worked for his entire life was reduced to ashes.
Only If Lincoln Had Resigned After the Civil War Rather Than Be Murdered
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 41 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
The deceased pope’s stock just went up in my book after seeing this.
https://twitter.com/bellazzu/status/1610466090043195392?s=61&t=SL-kwTWEQP_xc9gpWFV_lA
That’s great …no Biden at Pope Benedict’s funeral. Vatican following the Poope Emeritus’ wishes.