Since Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy and began his retirement in seclusion, he has said nothing publicly.
There's a very good reason for that, and that's why the most recent thing he's written is so amazing.
He's just publicly weighed in on Cardinal Kasper's proposal to give Holy Communion to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics.
Here's the story . . .
Why is Benedict XVI so silent these days?
To give his successor a free hand. If a pope emeritus continued to speak out and play a substantial role as a public figure, it could cause all kinds of problems for his successor.
If the two were perceived as being in opposition to each other, it could be extremely traumatic for the Church. Hypothetically, it could even create a schism.
That's why, when St. Celestine V resigned, his successor kept him imprisoned in a castle until he died.
By choosing to live in a monastery at the Vatican and staying out of the public eye, Benedict is deliberately staying out of Francis's way.
He's also setting a precedent for future popes emeritus.
What has Benedict said since retirement?
Very little. We know that he has been writing letters. In one letter, he took an atheist mathematician to the woodshed, and the mathematician later published the letter.
He also wrote a speech that was read at a Roman university by his aide, Archbishop Georg Ganswein.
But, in general, he has written very little that has come to public light.
And none of what he has written has dealt with controversial issues in the Church.
Until now.
What does Benedict think of "the Kasper proposal"
Over the last year, the Church has been wracked by a revival of Cardinal Walter Kasper's proposal to give Holy Communion to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics in some circumstances.
Cardinals have been publicly debating each other in the press.
We don't need to rehash the whole, sad history of that here.
As we've watched that situation play out, I've repeatedly wondered what Benedict must be thinking--and doing.
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Jimmy Akin, JimmyAkin.com is a Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a member on the Catholic Answers Speakers Bureau, a weekly guest on the global radio program “Catholic Answers Live,” a contributor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and the author of more publications than you can shake a stick at. My books include The Fathers Know Best, Mass Revision, and The Salvation Controversy. I hope you’ll check them out!
