(Vatican) Monsignor Georg Gänswein, the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI. will remain at his side after the resignation of the Pope, but retain the office of Prefect of the Pontifical Household. Thus from February 28th at 8pm he will be on the side of the former Pope and at the same time the new Pope both. This unusual constellation was announced this morning by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.
"Don George", as the secretary of the Pope is commonly referred to since the beginning of the Pontificate, will retire, according to the head of the "Press Room” to Castel Gandolfo on the afternoon of 28 February after the resignation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Them there are also the four Memores the four women who will follow him, who led the papal household. Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger [Not sure about the title], will stay until the end of the conclave in the papal summer residence, and then return to the Mater Ecclesiae convent in the Vatican. The necessary renovations were already complete in November 2012, in place for the former Pope to occupy an apartment next to the cloister of the monastery. Gänswein will then live in the monastery with the former pope. A decision on the Vatikanist Andrea Tornielli already on 12th Reported in February.
The personal secretary of the reigning Pope was Benedict XVI. was only appointed the last 7th of December as Archbishop and Prefect of the Pontifical Household. At a time when the Pope had already decided to resign. According to L'Osservatore Romano the intention to resign matured in Pope Benedict after the trip to Mexico and Cuba in March 2012. A decision-making process in which a nocturnal fall in the Mexican city of Leon also may have played a role, which has been confirmed today by Father Lombardi. Gänswein received his ordination by the Pope personally during Epiphany.
The Prefect of the Papal Household has the task of organizing the public life of the Pope, especially the hearings and meetings of the Holy Father. From 1998 until the fall of 2012 Americans Archbishop James Michael Harvey has held that title. In November 2012 and since then Pope Benedict XVI. has created him a Cardinal Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. With the appointment of Msgr Gänswein, the new prefect is the right hand of the pope resigning, which remains at his side, will continue to play a key position at the side of the new pope. A situation which seems to defy the Vatican statements that Benedict XVI. from the moment when he will be Cardinal Ratzinger, would exert no influence on the conclave and the future Pope.
Father Federico Lombardi explained that the future dual function of Curial Archbishop Gänswein alongside a foregone and a reigning pope so that the position of Prefect of the Papal Household is "No government official" and has nothing to do with "substantive decisions". The Office had to do with the implementation of the papal audiences and meetings, not with the decision of who will be presented to the Pope and not. Therefore, there would be "no problem because of the close bond" the prefect to the predecessor of the future pope.
The Mater Ecclesiae convent of the Leonine Wall in the Vatican Gardens was founded by Pope John Paul II and in 1994 on inaugurated on the 13th anniversary of the attack against him. It was the wish of the Pope to have a convent in the Vatican for their special Apostleship of Prayer prayig for the reigning pope and the Roman Curia. In the five-year cycle the orders and convent will change. Since 2009, a Salesian convent lives in the monastery. The sisters do needle, embroidery work for the papal household and supply these with fruits and vegetables from the monastery garden.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Vatican Insider
Image: Vatican Insider
As to his title, if the past is any guide, he would probably remain a cardinal. Gregory XII, the last pope to abdicate, took the position of Cardinal Archbishop of Frascati and Dean of the Sacred College (which latter position Benedict occupied before becoming pope, and which is currently occupied by Cardinal Sodano). One might argue that was a special case, and the position of Cardinal Dean is an elected one in any event, but it seems likely that he would at least retain the honor of being a cardinal, though likely only a cardinal priest as the seven cardinal bishoprics are all currently occupied, and the only one of occupants that might be considered papabile is Cardinal Bertone (who is, coincidentally, Cardinal Bishop of Frascati).
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