A documentary being released on Benedict XVI’s 94th birthday states that his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, tried to dissuade him from abdicating the papacy. “Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus,” directed by Andrés Garrigó, will be released April 16 by Goya Productions. The film will focus on Benedict’s papacy, and his time as prefect of Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Archbishop Georg Ganswein’
Documentary says Benedict XVI’s secretary tried to convince him not to resign
Thursday, April 15th, 2021Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI’s ‘illness is subsiding’
Monday, August 17th, 2020Benedict XVI’s personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that the pope emeritus’ illness is “subsiding.” In an interview with the German newspaper Südkurier, Archbishop Gänswein is reported to have said that Benedict XVI’s “illness is subsiding” and that his medication has been reduced. Benedict XVI has been suffering from facial shingles, a bacterial infection Read more
The shadow pontificate is drawing to a close
Monday, February 10th, 2020
It was only a matter of time. Pope Francis has finally lost his patience and gotten rid of Archbishop Georg Ganswein as prefect of the Papal Household. According to the German weekly, Die Tagespost, the pope put the 63-year-old on “indefinite administrative leave.” He did so, the paper said, because of the German prefect’s involvement Read more
Archbishop Gänswein – change of duties downplayed at Vatican
Monday, February 10th, 2020
The Vatican is saying little about a change in duties for Archbishop Gänswein. The Holy See Press Office says the long-time secretary of emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has had his duties as prefect of the papal household “reallocated to others”. It is downplaying 63-year-old Georg Gänswein’s absence from several papal audiences over the past few Read more
Benedict XVI does not confirm Viganò’s claims
Thursday, August 30th, 2018
Reports that Benedict XVI confirmed some of Archbishop Carlo Viganò’s claims about a cover-up of ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s abuse of seminarians are “fake news.” Archbishop Georg Gänswein, who is the prefect of the papal household for Pope Francis, says Pope-emeritus Benedict “has not commented” on an 11-page letter from Viganò, which was released by the Read more
Fake news: ex-Pope Benedict’s dying
Thursday, October 19th, 2017
A fake news report has convinced several media outlets that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is dying. In fact, he isn’t dying. The report is “pure invention,” Benedict’s personal secretary Archbishop Georg Ganswein says. Ganswein is also alleged to have said Benedict was “like a candle that fades slowly”. “He is serene, at peace with God, Read more
Ideas Benedict is anti-Francis are “fantasy”
Thursday, July 20th, 2017Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s aide Archbishop Georg Gänswein says it’s a “fantasy” to publish reports that set Benedict up against Pope Francis. Those who do so are “stupid people,” he adds. The reports originated after Gänswein read a message from Benedict at last week’s funeral of German Cardinal Joachim Meisner. In the message, Benedict alluded Read more
Retired Pope Benedict critiqued major interview for Pope Francis
Friday, March 21st, 2014
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sent a commentary to Pope Francis on the major interview the new pontiff gave last year to La Civilta Catholica. The prefect of the Pontifical Household for both popes, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, said this to a German television station. Archbishop Ganswein, who is also Benedict’s secretary, said the retired Pope wrote Read more
Secretary tried to stop Pope Benedict reigning
Tuesday, October 15th, 2013Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the longtime personal secretary to Pope Benedict XVI, has disclosed that he tried to dissuade the Pope Emeritus from resigning. The archbishop said he was aware of Benedict’s intentions well in advance of the public announcement of his resignation. He said that he argued against resignation, but the Pontiff “was not to Read more