Posted on 06/28/2016 10:24:02 AM PDT by marshmallow
Backing from retired pope at event to mark his 65th year as a priest may help Francis gain favour among church conservatives
Benedict XVI has endorsed Pope Francis’s ministry in an unprecedented Vatican ceremony featuring a reigning pontiff honouring a retired one on the 65th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.
The ceremony in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace served in part to show continuity from Benedict to Francis amid continued nostalgia from some conservatives for the former’s tradition-minded papacy.
Francis had invited the entire Vatican Curia, or bureaucracy, to celebrate Benedict’s anniversary, and prelates turned out in force for the rare occasion of being able to greet each man in white.
While Francis presided, it was Benedict who stole the show with an off-the-cuff mini theology lesson sprinkled with Greek and Latin that showed that the mind of the German theologian is still going strong at 89.
In it, Benedict thanked Francis for letting him live out his final years in the beauty of the Vatican gardens, where he said he felt protected.
“Thank you, Holy Father, for your goodness, which from the first moment of your election has struck every day of my life,” Benedict said, speaking without notes. “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, lack of attention to liturgy and emphasis on mercy over morals.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I think it is possible that at one time Benedict had the Faith. He grew up and was ordained a priest before the Vatican II changes. However, I also believe that if he ever had it, he lost it and no longer has it.
JPII was said to believe that the anti-Christ had been born. And I read that 30 years ago.
Bergoglio is a sociopath. He cares nothing about the truth—e.g., carbon dioxide is a pollutant, etc. He knows how to get fame and power. He decided years ago he was going to get what he wants from the globalist totalitarians.
No, I’m not “cool with it,” but was stating what I saw as his reasoning for not raising a public stink. Perhaps he is raising it in private conversations.
"Protected" from what, exactly? Very strange.
Upon his election and at his inaugural Mass, Pope Benedict XVI asked, “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.”
Unfortunately, it’s apparent that not enough people prayed for him and thus in 2013, he did flee the wolves.
And he still is, to this day.
This was honoring Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 89.
I don’t understand your reasoning.
**Something is amiss.**
I agree.
Francis looks to be clinging desperately to the arms of Benedict, leaning intensely forward with a crazed look in his eyes.
I imagine Frank whispering, “Ben, Madre de Dios! You were right about wolves! I’m surrounded here by the 3-G’s: globalists, greenies and gays! They write my encyclicals and force me to say nutty stuff! Can I come live with you before I completely derail the RCC?”
Bergoglio wants to be a rock star.
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