In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recalls that his resignation from the papacy was a “difficult choice”, but that he did so “in full consciousness”, believing that he did well.
For Vatican News
The resignation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to the papacy, which took effect eight years ago, [28 February 2013] it was a “difficult choice,” but made “with full awareness,” something he has not regretted at all.
Once again, the Pope Emeritus, albeit in a submissive voice, repeats what he has already said several times to dismiss the “somewhat fanatical friends” who continue to see “conspiracy theories” behind his decision to leave the chair of St. Peter retiring for reasons of old age.
Pope Benedict XVI reiterated this in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
A difficult but correct decision
“It was a difficult decision,” explains the Pope Emeritus, “but I took it with full awareness and I think I did it right. Some of my friends who are” fanatics “are still angry; they didn’t want to accept I’m thinking about theories of the conspiracy that followed him: those who said it was because of the Vatileaks scandal, those who said it because of the case of Lefebvrian’s conservative theologian Richard Williamson, they did not want to believe it, it was a conscious decision. , but my conscience is clear. “
Papal visit to Iraq
In the interview, Benedict XVI also spoke about Pope Francis’ next apostolic trip to Iraq.
“I think it’s a very important journey,” he said. “Unfortunately, it comes at a very difficult time that also makes it a dangerous journey for security reasons and also for the Covid-19. There is also the unstable situation in Iraq. I will accompany Francis with my prayers.”