Guard
The passing of Benedict XVI on December 31 continues to send waves through Vatican life, drawing renewed attention to his relationship with his longtime secretary. Georg Gänswein. The book released this week, My Life with Benedict, coauthored with Italian journalist Saverio Gaeta, retraces Benedict XVI’s life from its earliest days to the height of his papacy and his years as a retired pope. Gänswein portrays Benedict as a figure who faced relentless media scrutiny and defends him against what he sees as unfair portrayal, even calling him the “Rottweiler of God.” The book also sheds light on the uneasy dynamic between Benedict and Francis after the resignation.
The 336-page volume maps Benedict XVI’s life in stages: his early formation, his leadership within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1982 to 2005, and then his eight-year papacy. The author emphasizes the strong bond of duty that defined Benedict’s years as the church’s guardian of doctrine and, later, as a retired pope navigating a rapidly changing church.
Gänswein’s portrayal leans into the tension that existed between the two popes, explaining why he felt the relationship with Francis was strained. He describes moments when he sensed a growing distance and attempts to defend Benedict against what he terms unfounded attacks from some corners of the press. The narrative includes episodes where Benedict’s leadership voice continued to influence church life, even as his proximity to Francis grew more complicated.
humiliated
The book chronicles a turning point in the Vatican’s tone that began when Benedict’s resignation in 2013 set off a new era of questions and expectations. The author notes a sense that trust between Benedict and Francis must be rebuilt, and that the path toward a harmonious collaboration was not straightforward. The secretary describes moments when he felt uncertain about his own role within the evolving papal framework, offering a candid view of the human side of Vatican service.
Other passages recount difficult exchanges, including a disputed staff move and a 2014 moment when Benedict’s presence during a visit to a Benedictine community was deemed unnecessary by the pope. Gänswein admits feeling humiliated by that decision, though he stresses that personal dignity did not hinge on a single choice. The narrative also highlights how Benedict and Francis approached theological differences, including differing takes on the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, where Benedict’s voice sometimes sounded distinct from Francis’s emphasis.
a determined pope
While some readers view the book as a critique of Francis, it also uncovers less-known details about Benedict’s thinking. For instance, it suggests Benedict began to consider resignation following a 2011 trip to Madrid for World Youth Day, and that Gänswein attempted to dissuade him. When pressed, Benedict is portrayed as firmly resolved, emphasizing that the ultimate test of leadership is the steady presence of faith rather than the persistence of any individual leader.
Benedict’s responses to these moments show a man who valued continuity and spiritual focus. He is quoted as saying that a pope can come and go, but what matters is the enduring presence of Jesus. The secretary recounts these conversations as moments of personal counsel and shared faith, underscoring the enduring bond that remained even amid disagreement.
expelled from the monastery
The release of the book brings a wave of reactions, including reports of tensions within the Vatican staff. One chapter describes the possibility of a staff change and the sense that a change in residence might be contemplated after the book’s publication. The German Catholic agency confirmed that the secretary faced pressure tied to the book’s leaks, complicating his living arrangements but not ending his commitment to service.
The text also touches on broader Vatican debates, including the response of Cardinal Georg Pell and other figures to Francis’s leadership. The passages quoted suggest that some observers viewed Francis’s early steps as creating challenges within the church on issues such as priestly celibacy and LGBTQ concerns. The tone remains analytical, focusing on how these debates shaped a papacy navigating a post-resignation landscape.