In 2013 Benedict, citing health reasons, became the first pope to resign in some 600 years, ending a papacy of almost eight years marked by a scandal centred around leaked documents that alleged corruption and mismanagement in the Vatican.
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Instead, like the Porziuncola where St. Francis spent his final days in prayer, the Mater Ecclesiae monastery “has become a “Franciscan” place that emanates tranquility, peace, strength, faithfulness, maturity, faith, dedication and loyalty which does so much good for me and gives strength to me and to the whole church”, Pope Francis said.
Speaking to Pope Francis and members of the College of Cardinals gathered inside the Vatican’s small Clementine Hall for the 65th anniversary of his priestly ordination, Benedict said the Greek word “Efkaristomen” (let us give thanks), expresses “all that there is to say” for the occasion.
Francis also recounted how friendly they are and how Benedict has shooed away conservative supporters who come complaining about Francis’ more reformist papacy.
Accepting applause from Pope Francis and dozens of cardinals who had assembled for the reception, the retired Pontiff spoke directly to his successor, saying: “More than in the Vatican Gardens, with their beauty, your goodness is the place where I dwell: I feel protected”. “We hope that you can go forward with all of us on this path of divine mercy, showing us the path of Jesus toward God”.
Benedict’s vote of confidence may help quell conservative criticism of the current pope’s loose theology.
Francis has recently dismissed new questions about the implications of Benedict’s resignation by insisting that there is only one pope himself and that Benedict had pledged his obedience to him.
A few minutes later, Pope Francis entered the hall and made a beeline for his predecessor, who respectfully removed his zucchetto before greeting him.
They are usually at major Church ceremonies together with Francis such as the investiture of new cardinals.
Benedict “is the man that protects my shoulders and back with his prayer”, Francis said.
In his first public address in nearly a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his honest gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness “from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply”.
Church analysts on both the left and right criticized Gaenswein’s interpretation, saying there is one pope, Francis, and one papal ministry.
He explains there were 40 candidates for ordination, and that “when we were called we responded: ‘Here I am.'” Cautioning the reader not to be superstitious, Benedict recounts how when the elderly archbishop laid his hands on the future Pope’s head, “a small bird – perhaps a lark – rose up from the high altar of the cathedral and san a joyful little song”.
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A Vatican ceremony June 28 featuring a rare joint appearance by Pope Francis and his predecessor seemed aimed at tamping down speculation about the unusual circumstance of having two living popes.
