The wicked influence of the St. Gallen Mafia

Catholic Conclave ^ | 19/02/2023 | Cg

[Gillibrand1]

Benedict's resignation is an enigma, but it seems that the German pope was a naive person surrounded by wolves. What the book reports is this: (1) that Martini boasted of having had several private meetings with Benedict in 2011-2012; (2) that in 2012 he had shared with a confidant his wish that Benedict would resign 'soon'; (3) that Martini's confessor reported how, in June 2012, the latter had asked Benedict to resign; (4) that Martini told his confidant that a new conclave might well elect conservative Cardinal Angelo Scola.

[Jonty30]

My understanding is that Benedict was threatened with arrest by the EU if he did not resign over the sexual abuses of the clergy.

[Hieronymus]

I would guess that there is no single factor that all may be placed on, and the Gänswein’s analysis deserves 50-75% weighting. His health seemed to be in precipitous decline, and I would guess that if he had held on, the stress would have killed him within 2-3 months.

Perhaps if he had died with his pallium on, as it were, we would have ended up with Scola, who may appear better in the short-term.

If we had ended up with Bergolio instead, and without the counterbalance of a living Benedict, who knows.

That said, Pope Francis likely has a whole host of pressures being placed upon him. While he has never been fond of trade, he has become much worse—and I suspect this isn’t either the unfolding of a secret agenda on his part or merely the abating of the influence exercised by Pope Benedict.

However it wasn’t Ford that took us from Nixon to Reagan, it was Carter.

Pray for all those to be involved in the next conclave. The Holy Spirit is powerful, and GOd always treats His people more generously than they deserve, but He also works with our cooperation.

[ebb tide]

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