Pope Benedict XVI announced on the 11th of February that he will resign as a leader of the Catholic Church, explaining that he no longer had the energy carry out his daily duties. From that point on, there have been allegations published on newspapers trying to give the real reason why the Pope had to resign. Is there any real connection between those allegation and the fact that the Benedict XVI is resigning?
With all the allegations published trying to explain the Pope’s decision it is clear that the reason for his departure will be queried even long after he is gone. That might even rob him from his greatest achievement while he was still in office.
According to an Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, the truth might be that last year, in mid-December, the Pope was overwhelmed when presented with documents filled with evidence that a group of highly placed Vatican priests engaged in homosexual relations with outsiders. According to that theory, those Vatican priests allowed themselves to be blackmailed by their gay lovers.
The newspaper explains that it was based on that circumstance that the Pope decided he could not carry on anymore. The Vatican response was to deny all those claims.
On Friday, the transfer of a senior clergyman, Ettore Balestrero, to a post in Columbia was quickly latched by the media who claimed that the move was intended to get the man out of the Vatican after he had committed some unnamed transgressions.
During the year 2012, Paolo Gabriele, the Pope’s butler, with the assistance of Vatican powerful officials, leaked documents to Gianluigi Nuzzi, an italian journalist who confirmed the worst prejudices about the Holy See.
After this incident, the Pope’s butler ended up on a trial and Benedict ordered a deeper investigation taken by 3 trusted cardinals. Apparently the report that the cardinals came up with only showed how worse the situation really was and it is believed that this is what tipped the Pope’s hand.
According to critics, looking at the facts, Benedict had no choice but to abandon the post because he couldn’t possibly face the tide of revelations. It was possible that he could face censure for personal mistakes, that is if that was not considered as deeds.
The RT website has referred to the past 8 years of Pope Benedict as calamitous. During his time the church’s public relations has turned into a disaster, followed by damaging revelations that resulted in endless lawsuits coming from the 4 corners of the world.
One has to admit that Pope Benedict was not that much of a successful communicator and that is irrespective of his knowledge in theological matters. He would usually end up on the defensive after making pronouncements on issues that are supposed to be routine.
On the RT website, it was noted that in 600 years, he was the first Pope to leave the office alive. Some traditionalists may have been angered by his decision but at the same time Benedict has set an example to his successors who will now see the option as being available instead of having to become a constant deathwatch as they get older.
For that reason Joseph Ratzinger (his real name) should be treated with respect. For the time being the world will be expecting a newly appointed Pope who hopefully will be able to deal with the issues that his predecessor failed to take hold of.
Loic
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He has taken a Good Decision…