Pope Benedict XVI sent a sobering message at the funeral of Cardinal Meisner, saying he was moved at the Cardinal's ability to "live out of a deep conviction that the Lord does not abandon His Church, even when the boat has taken on so much water as to be on the verge of capsizing."
The Church "stands in particularly pressing need of convincing shepherds who can resist the dictatorship of the spirit of the age and who live and think the faith with determination," Pope Benedict said in a message read by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary and head of the Papal household. Because of this "pressing need," Cardinal Meisner "found it difficult to leave his post,” the retired Pope stated.
The secular media was quick in interpreting the statement to be unconcealed disdain from one Pope to his successor, delivered in front of the world.
Cardinal Meisner, 83, who was one of four cardinals who had been in direct conflict with Francis over his controversial apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), which has softened church rules on divorce and Holy Communion.
Archbishop Gänswein denounced suggestions that the retired Pontiff had intended to criticize Pope Francis with a statement issued for the death of Cardinal Meisner.
Archbishop Gänswein charged that those who gave such a dramatic interpretation of the former Pope’s words had “deliberately exploited” him. He said that Benedict “wasn’t alluding to anything specific” with his reference to a storm-tossed ship.
In fact, Benedict XVI had used similar language frequently during his own pontificate.
Archbishop Gänswein told Il Giornale that “stupid” people were “trying to use the Pope-emeritus in an anti-Francis tone.”
We regret the Archbishop's use of insults in defending the Pope Emeritus.
We are grateful to the Archbishop, however, for clearing up any confusion that may have arisen as a result of the retired Pope’s letter. The clarification needed to be made and the secular media’s spin stopped in its tracks.
Still, perhaps the Church and the Papal Office itself would be best served by the Pope Emeritus's public silence henceforth.
Certainly, any sentiments he may wish to express on any topic can be directly and discreetly communicated so that no public misinterpretation or spin is possible.
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