Pope Emeritus Benedict told an Italian newspaper on Monday that some of his more “fanatical” supporters refused to accept his resignation, arguing that they had fallen for “conspiracy theories”.
News threads reported that the former pope said in an interview with Corriere della Sera that his resignation was a ‘conscious choice’ that his followers should accept.
“It was a difficult decision. But it was a completely conscious choice and I think I did well, ‘he told the newspaper, adding:’ Some of my more fanatical friends are still upset, they do not accept my choice. ‘
“They do not want to believe in a choice made knowingly,” Benedict continued. “But my conscience is clear.”
Benedict apparently again agreed to his appeal to all Catholics to accept it Pope Francis
Pope Francis Ex-Pope targets ‘fanatical friends’ who have not accepted resignation Experts advise Pope’s trip to Iraq amid pandemic, Italy commemorates one year anniversary of his first known COVID-19 case MORE as the rightful and current pope, who strikes at the armrest of his chair and declares, “There is only one pope,” according to Reuters.
Benedict was elected pope by the College of Cardinals in 2005 and served until his resignation in 2013. Thereafter, he assumed the title of pope emeritus, an unusual move because popes usually serve for life rather than resign.
He has made occasional public appearances since his resignation in 2013, but has largely remained in the shadow of Francis, now the public face of the Catholic Church.