Benedict was blackmailed. Google the VaticanLeaks and the investigative reports from the Italian media.
The cover story was that Benedict's health was "too frail to continue his duties as pope."
And as we have seen, for almost 4 years, Benedict has been in good health, even to this day.
Pope John Paul II carried on his duties despite enormous health challenges.
Was the blackmail so bad BVXI couldn’t stay and fight for us?