(Rome) There have been some concerns and annoyances in the Vatican, because not a few believers in Benedict XVI. see a pope or even "the" Pope. However, the Holy See should not wonder about it, as it contributes to it.
Benedict XVI. laid the foundation for this by stipulating, as a pope, what his life would look like after his resignation on February 28, 2013. He retained the name and clothing of the Pope and also signed as such, but with the addition of a Papa emeritus, an emeritus pope, hitherto unknown in Church history. If one uses the term analogously to the retirement of bishops, then it would mean that he remained pope with all rights, but was released from the leadership duties.
One difficulty is that one does not emeritus himself but is retired. It is related to the person concerned, to a passive verb. So can a pope emeritus himself?
For the clarification it is not helpful, but the interpretation was of two Pope’s was rather aggravating, who perform the function of Peter together in different ways. It was offered by Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein and was certainly well-intentioned, but in the matter irrationally transfiguring. Emeritus Curial Cardinal Walter Brandmuller replied to the general question with a serious warning and the statement that there could only ever be one legitimate pope. There has recently been a private correspondence between the Cardinal and Benedict XVI. (See also the essay "Divine Providence compels Benedict XVI to witness the debacle he has caused" by Roberto de Mattei.)
However, the Holy See, of all people, promotes this ambiguous interpretation of a situation that is perceived as an anomaly and has repeatedly been described as such.
The State Secretariat of the Vatican, the supreme governing body of the Holy See serving the Pope, addresses Benedict XVI in a letter of 18 February 2019. as if he were still ruling pope.
The First Section - General Affairs answered a priest in the USA. The occasion and content of the letter do not matter. It is noteworthy that the Vatican Secretariat of State Benedict XVI. designated and titled like an incumbent Pope. The letter could not have been written differently before 28 February 2013.
Benedict XVI. is called by his pope name and as "holiness". That's exactly how a Pope feels, and that's exactly what Benedict XVI wanted. also. To distinguish him from his successor, he added but with the "emeritus" retirement. This distinction is missing in the letter of reply from the Secretariat of State, signed by Msgr. Paolo Borgia, after all, number two in the First Section behind the substitution of the Secretary of State.
Ob es sich um ein Versäumnis oder um eine besondere Form der Höflichkeit handelt, sei dahingestellt. Man sollte auch nicht zuviel hineininterpretieren. Allerdings sollte man sich im Vatikan auch nicht wundern, wenn Gläubige es anders auslegen und darin Zeichen sehen. Sie sind Ausdruck einer Verunsicherung und der erwähnten Anomalie, und beide gehen vom Vatikan aus.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Ann Barnhardt
Bild: Ann Barnhardt
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
