The personal secretary strips away the mythological encrustations surrounding the memory of Benedict XVI. The interview with Msgr. Gänswein: “There was only one Pope; the other was emeritus.”

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Every time Msgr. Georg Gänswein speaks, someone gets upset.

The beloved personal secretary of Benedict XVI is in fact the insurmountable obstacle against which conspiracy theories and speculative narratives crash—those who for years have built fanciful stories around the resignation of the German pope.

The interview granted yesterday to Ezio Mauro in “La Repubblica” on the relationship between Benedict XVI and Pope Francis is yet another clear example.

The occasion is the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, on April 21, 2025. Exactly one year ago.

 

 

Gänswein: “Only one Pope, the other was emeritus”

«There was only one Pope», Gänswein immediately clarifies, correcting the interviewer’s hasty definition of “two Popes” with “the same white garments”.

This sentence was repeated several times by Ratzinger himself when he tried to counter with his last strength the conspiracy theories that began circulating about the invalidity of his resignation.

«There are not two Popes. The Pope is only one», Ratzinger said in 2021 to “Corriere della Sera”, complaining about «some of my friends, a bit “fanatical”, who are still angry and have not wanted to accept my decision».

He was referring to certain cardinals (the German Brandmüller, in particular) who had publicly criticized his resignation.

Unfortunately, even this obvious clarification was manipulated and used to claim, absurdly, that Benedict XVI was referring to himself.

The Italian journalist Antonio Socci, the first supporter of the invalidity of the resignation (he changed his mind in 2022), wrote that «it would have been a scoop if Joseph Ratzinger, besides repeating “the pope is one”, had also mentioned the name». According to him, Benedict XVI should have added «this simple little phrase: there is only one pope and it is Francis, while I am no longer pope».

This thesis was later copied and recycled by various imitators of Socci and still circulates online today.

Ratzinger’s personal secretary lived at his side during the period when his thoughts were being manipulated and is fully aware of everything. He even went so far as to define as «a personal elaboration in the vein of Dan Brown»¹G. Ganswein, “Nothing But the Truth. My Life Beside Benedict XVI”, Piemme 2023, p. 218 the thesis of a false abdication.

That is why yesterday he wanted to add an almost ridiculous obvious point, but evidently necessary:

«There was only one Pope. The other was still called Pope, but in reality he was the Pope emeritus. This is a major difference. I understand the visual effect, the two images in white clothing. But Benedict removed the mozzetta, set aside the sash, and changed the color of his shoes, in order to mark the difference. Of course there was an unprecedented coexistence between a reigning Pope and a Pope emeritus, as Benedict chose to be called. He chose it himself»

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And the self-taught canon lawyers?

Faced with these words, what will the self-taught canon lawyers say?

Will they invent a “Gänswein code”? How will they twist or interpret his words to keep their theories alive?

There is no longer any room for trials of intention, “Ratzinger codes” and appeals in the Vatican to verify the resignation.

Let us also recall the release, one year ago, of the unpublished text by Benedict XVI, with which he tried once again to defend himself from his self-proclaimed admirers:

«To say that in my resignation I left “only the exercise of the ministry and not also the munus” is contrary to clear dogmatic-canonical doctrine […]. If some journalists speak of a “creeping schism,” they deserve no attention».

 

Other myths dismantled by Gänswein

Msgr. Gänswein also dismantled other myths.

Who better than him, who accompanied Benedict XVI daily until the day of his death?

First of all, the false motivations that allegedly led to the resignation: «It has nothing to do with Vatileaks, nor with the so-called homosexual lobbies, or anything else. The resignation was the result of deep reflection, of intense prayer: the Pope posed the question to his conscience and then decided».

Regarding the relationship between Benedict and Francis, the German archbishop recounts the Argentine pope’s desire to meet his predecessor immediately after being elected, and the great respect he showed him—so much so that he insisted on always giving him precedence when they moved together within the Vatican.

Then comes Ratzinger’s decision to live within St. Peter’s.

«He wanted to remain within the enclosure of St. Peter’s», explains Gänswein. «Once, when he was still reigning, I asked him: ‘Holy Father, where shall we go? Where do you want to live? Castel Gandolfo? The Vatican Gardens?’ ‘No, in the small Mater Ecclesiae monastery’».

Why? «He had already chosen it, he liked that place, which allowed him to be inside yet distant, secluded. It was the right place». It also allowed Francis to visit him frequently, bringing him sweets and fostering «a growing familiarity» between the two.

 

The preface to Sarah’s book

Ezio Mauro asks the archbishop about one of the most critical moments, the issue of Ratzinger’s preface to Cardinal Sarah’s book on priestly celibacy, while the Synod on the Amazon was discussing the topic.

Here too Georg Gänswein is keen to clarify:

«I must correct you somewhat. Pope Benedict did not write a preface to a book by Cardinal Sarah. He informed Pope Benedict that he was writing a book and asked whether he had any observations—not on celibacy, but on the priesthood. Benedict wrote about thirty pages and sent them to the cardinal. Therefore, a book was never written by four hands, even though some deduced that Cardinal Sarah and Benedict himself, with this book, intended to pressure Pope Francis regarding the issue of celibacy. This intention certainly never existed, neither on the part of the cardinal nor, even less, on the part of Pope Benedict».

 

Ratzinger and Bergoglio’s critics

It is also false that the Pope emeritus had become a reference point for conservatives critical of Bergoglio.

«The real situation has been greatly exaggerated», Gänswein explains, «as if there had been a real procession to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery. This is not true».

The reality is that «there were some observations about Francis’ behavior and decisions, but it is perfectly normal to comment on a papal decision—it is not forbidden in itself».

Certainly, «it is not true that Benedict became a kind of confessor for that entire wing you called conservative. I have no evidence of that».

 

Benedict XVI and the Latin Mass

The interview also briefly mentions “Traditionis Custodes”.

This refers to the decision of July 16, 2021, which restricted the celebration of the Tridentine Mass by entrusting authorization to individual bishops. Well, explains Msgr. Gänswein, «Benedict never commented on Pope Francis’ motu proprio “Traditionis Custodes”».

Any tensions between the two, even on this matter, are placed within a far less conflictual framework than is often portrayed.

However, he adds: «In my book I wrote that when we read L’Osservatore Romano, Benedict’s heart grew heavy. That is true—but I say it, not him».

Nevertheless, he further clarifies that, beyond differences—which «are not a bad thing»—both Benedict and Francis «were witnesses of the Resurrection of the Lord». This is the most relevant aspect that united them.

 

The “mark” of being Ratzinger’s collaborator

Regarding his relationship with Francis, the current apostolic nuncio clarifies a phrase he had used in the past: “As a collaborator of Ratzinger, I evidently carry a mark of Cain”.

Today he explains: «I said this in general, not in reference to Pope Francis. It is clear that the figure of Joseph Ratzinger aroused both friends and enemies, so to speak. And since I was his very close collaborator for many years, this mark has remained on me. And it may be that Pope Francis himself perceived it».

 

The interview and the mythological encrustations

The interview with Benedict XVI’s personal secretary offers a concrete image, not an ideological one, of the relationship between the two Popes.

But above all, it scales down recurring narratives, debunks falsehoods, and cleanses the memory of Benedict (and of Pope Francis!) from the mythological encrustations that are still attached to them today.

 

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Consult our dossier: Benedict XVI supports Francis: here are all the speeches