A book by Benedict XVI’s top adviser reveals tensions in the Vatican

VATICAN CITY, Jan 6 (Reuters) – While the Pope Francisco often compared having Pope Emeritus Benedict living in the Vatican to having a grandfather at home, a book by the closest adviser to Benedict shows what he says were tensions between the two white-robed men while they lived in the small city-state.

Benedict XVI was buried on Thursday and, hours after the funeral in Saint Peter’s Square, an Italian publisher began sending advance copies of the 330-page book to journalists: “Nothing but the truth. My life alongside Benedict XVI by Archbishop Georg Ganswein.

Ganswein66, was Benedict’s personal secretary since 2003, when Benedict was still cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and remained by his side for nearly 20 years, until his death on Saturday. He was the prefect of the Papal Household under Francis, until he was replaced in 2020.

In the book, which will hit bookstores on January 12, Ganswein offers an inside look at Benedict’s 2005 election, his decision in 2013 to become the first pope in 600 years to resignhis years after the papacy, his illness and his last hours.

Although Benedict largely avoided public appearances after his resignation, he remained a standard-bearer for Catholic conservatives, who felt alienated by the reforms introduced by Francis, including the crackdown on the Old Latin Mass.

Ganswein says Benedict was “surprised” that Francis never responded to a public letter from four conservative cardinals in 2016, including US Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, that accused Francis of sowing confusion on moral issues.

The book also says that Benedict I did not agree with some of the positions of Francisco.

After Francis gave a lengthy interview to a Jesuit magazine six months after his 2005 election, Francis sent the magazine to Benedict for comment.

Ganswein says that Benedict, in his response to Francis, criticized the way Francis had responded to questions about abortion and homosexuality.

He also writes that Benedict considered Francis’ decision to restrict the use of the traditionalist Latin Mass “an error.”

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said he had no comment on the book, written with Italian journalist Saverio Gaeta and published by Piemme, a Mondadori imprint. (Reporting by Philip Pullella Edited in Spanish by Javier López de Lérida)