Election of Pope Benedict in 2005 was Outcome of 'Dramatic Struggle,' Says Archbishop Ganswein

Catholic Culture ^ | 5/23/16

[marshmallow]

The longtime personal secretary to Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI has spoken of a "dramatic struggle" at the conclave of 2005, and insisted that the former Pontiff did not resign because of the "Vatileaks" scandal.

Speaking at the launch of a book about Pope Benedict, Archbishop Georg Gänswein-- who continues to act as secretary to the retired Pontiff, while also serving as prefect of the pontifical household-- said that the "Vatileaks" scandal had "little or nothing" to do with the Pontiff's decision to resign. He said that Benedict XVI was motivated by his realization that he was growing weaker. By resigning, Archbishop Gänswein said, Benedict expanded the understanding of the papal office; making it possible to have one "active" Pontiff and another "contemplative" at the same time.

Commenting on a book by Italian author Roberto Regoli, the German archbishop said that the election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 was "the outcome of a battle," which the author had described. The struggle pitted supporters of then-Cardinal Ratzinger against the "St. Gallen group" that included Cardinals Godfried Danneels, Achille Silvestrini, and Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI Sees Resignation as Expanding Petrine Ministry (National Catholic Register)

[Talisker]

Benedict doesn’t seem any weaker.

[gaijin]

Wasn’t it some shadowy group of homo lefty German Cardinals that pushed Benedict out..?

The more insane things i hear from BeguilingDevilPope, the more curious I grow about the exact murky event chain that suddenly sent Benedict packing.

[opus1]

Whatever you’ve heard is not the truth (at least entirely); whatever the truth, you shall not hear.

All conclaves are a dramatic struggle, all the more so coming after Benedict’s dramatic struggle which we would be wise to attribute to his own explanation instead of working ourselves into dramatic frenzies of speculation.

[Just mythoughts]

Whatever you’ve heard is not the truth (at least entirely); whatever the truth, you shall not hear. All conclaves are a dramatic struggle, all the more so coming after Benedict’s dramatic struggle which we would be wise to attribute to his own explanation instead of working ourselves into dramatic frenzies of speculation.

I take comfort that the Creator keep the only records that count. Man has not changed since the Adam was formed and the breath of life (soul/spirit intellect) was breathed into the Adam's nostrils.

[Psalm 144]

I’m not a Catholic, so I don’t have a dog in the hunt, but it looks like a putsch from the outside looking in.

A former Catholic friend of mine says financial fiddling and the Bank of Rome has something to do with it. Seems more like a mutiny to me.

I’m glad it isn’t my problem.

[MDLION]

I’ve read that Bergoglio(Francis) got to within 72-40 before Benedict was elected on the next ballot but have to wonder if the word “struggle” is a bit much since Benedict was elected rather quickly. Was it the fourth ballot? No doubt, there was an effort against Ratzinger but a “dramatic struggle”?