There is no REAL power, army, land or money in the Vatican. They aren't a country in the usual sense of the word. They are a UNIQUE ENTITY. But what else can we expect: "They" are Jesus' Church on earth from 2000 years ago. AND, they are supposedly all called to serve God, not "mammon."
If STATUS were all that was up for grabs, those STATUS-hungry men wouldn't have been able to hide their STATUS-hungry ambition all the years it takes to get to be a cardinal. Their STATUS-hungry ambition would have knocked them out of the competition eons ago.
REAL humility is impossible to fake, especially with all those Vatican eyes on one.
So "vicious power struggle"? I don't buy it.
Benedict was first described as a "towering intellect" with a "backbone of tempered steel." I SERIOUSLY doubt that he is having any problems with "vicious power struggles" on his watch.
Just my opinion.
It’s not a vicious power struggle until someone gets poisoned!