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Tuesday 3 January 2023

"It hit him pretty hard. I believe it broke his heart." Archbishop Gänswein on Benedict XVI's reaction to Bergoglio's Traditiones Custodes

In an interview released yesterday, Archbishop Gänswein, Secretary to Pope Benedict XVI makes a comment on the late retired Pontiff's reaction to Bergoglio's vicious Traditionis Custodes:

Interviewer: So, Pope Benedict’s lifting of restrictions on celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite according to the 1962 Missal did not last as long as he intended. As Pope Emeritus, he was around to see the promulgation of Pope Francis’ MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes. Was he disappointed? 

Archbishop Gänswein: It hit him pretty hard. I believe it broke Pope Benedict’s heart to read the new MOTU PROPRIO, because his intention had been to help those who simply found a home in the Missale Vetustum—to find inner peace, to find liturgical peace—in order to draw them away from Marcel Lefebvre. And if you think about how many centuries the old Mass was the source of spiritual life and nourishment for many people including many saints, it’s impossible to imagine that it no longer has anything to offer. And let’s not forget that many young people—who were born long after the Second Vatican Council, and who don’t really grasp all the drama surrounding that council—that these young people, knowing the new Mass, have nevertheless found a spiritual home, a spiritual treasure in the old Mass as well. To take this treasure away from people … well, I can’t say that I’m comfortable with that.

“Traditionis Custodes” Motu Proprio “Broke Pope Benedict's Heart” acc. to Archbishop Gänswein from Freddie Wasserstien on Vimeo.

Full video here:

An exclusive interview with Archbishop Georg Gänswein (benedictusxvi.com)


6 comments:

P. O'Brien said...

Traditiones Custodes broke more hearts than Ratzinger's. But was he so ignorant of Bergoglio as to not suspect that things might change for the negative? Bergoglio was the runner-up to Ratzinger in his election.

Tom A. said...

Well Benedict broke my heart when I learned just how much of a modernist and ecumenist he really was.

Mary Kay said...

That Ratzinger's desire was 'to draw people away from (Abp) Lefebvre' demonstrates to me that he didn't really care about those who had 'found a home in Tradition'. It sounds vindictive to me. Marcel Lefebvre and his priests have done more for the Catholic Church in the last 5o years than any other priestly order yet they are so frequently maligned. That remark merely demonstrates that Ratzinger was a career priest, doing what he needed to get along until it became too difficult.

Brian said...

Vox
"...draw people away from Lefebrvre...". This is a strange and puzzling assessment. Is this what Benedict really desired? Did the SSPX think this way,after years of lobbying Rome to free up the TLM. In the long run, Summorum Pontificum would actually draw more people to Lefebrvre. Did Benedict not foresee this possibility? And that is what is happening, as the phobia towards the SSPX continues to fade.

Irenaeus said...

Many thanks, Vox, for posting this, and may God rest Benedict's soul.

Robert Mignella said...

Dr. Taylor Marshall rightfully suggests that for "neo-conservative" Catholics, (those who attend mass regularly, pray the rosary, go to confession, participate in adoration), the death of Pope Benedict XVI signifies a crumbling of any middle ground between TLM group and the progressive Synodal Way church. I cannot help but agree with his assessment and I feel the free fall. Consequently, the challenge of Vatican 2 interpretation continues with Bishops having a hard time trying to remain neutral or silent. It is an intriguing and exciting time.
I appreciate the insightful contribution that Vox is making to the discussion...you are good at "accompaniment" :)

R Mignella