Friend of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Schönborn Criticizes Gänswein's Book which Reveals he Encouraged Acceptance of the Papal Election
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Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has released a statement on the recent book publication by Pope Benedict XVI's personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein. The book is entitled "Nothing but the Truth" ( "Nient'altro che la verita" ) and written by Archbishop Gänswein.
FULL TEXT - Statement by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn
Gänswein book: Schönborn encouraged Ratzinger to accept the papal election
Schönborn literally: "I don't think it's right that such confidential things are published, especially by the personal secretary."
Cardinal Vienna confirms statements made by Benedict XVI's private secretary: "Yes, that was the case. I have deliberately kept silent about it until now." Reprimand for publication: "Unproper indiscretion."
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn was the person who encouraged Joseph Ratzinger to accept the conclave's decision if he was elected pope. This small "revelation" can be found in the book entitled "Nothing but the Truth" ( "Nient'altro che la verita" ) written by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the long-time secretary of the Pope, which was published in Italian last week.
On Wednesday, Cardinal Schönborn confirmed Gänswein's statements that he, Schönborn, had written "a little letter to Cardinal Ratzinger just in case" before the conclave. "Yes, that was the case. But until now I have deliberately kept silent about it, although it happened within the framework of the Cardinal Assembly and not at the conclave itself ," said the Archbishop of Vienna.
At the same time, the cardinal distanced himself from Gänswein's book project, calling it an "inappropriate indiscretion". Schönborn literally: "I don't think it's right that such confidential things are published, especially by the personal secretary."
Pope's "guillotine" speech
Specifically, the private secretary of Benedict XVI. in his book in the chapter on "Schönborns Brief" ( "La lettera di Schönborn") to a speech by the newly elected Pope a few days earlier to a group of German pilgrims on April 25, 2005. At that time, Benedict XVI spoke. surprisingly open about his feelings at the conclave and said: "When slowly the course of the votes made me realize that the ax was about to fall on me, so to speak, I felt dizzy. (...) I said to the Lord with deep conviction: Don't do this to me! You have younger and better people who can approach this great task with a completely different vigor and strength. A small letter touched me very much,
The fact that the "fellow brother" mentioned by the Pope meant Cardinal Schönborn has only now been made public with his book by Gänswein.
And what was the content of the letter? Also about it Benedict XVI. detailed information in the speech to his compatriots at the time: "He (Schönborn, note) reminded me that I had placed the sermon at the service for John Paul II from the gospel under the word that the Lord at the Sea of Galilee to Peter said: Follow me! I had shown how Karol Wojtyla received this call from the Lord again and again and had to give up a lot and simply say: Yes, I will follow you, even if you lead me where I didn't want to go.
The brother (Schönborn, note) wrote to me: If the Lord should now say to you 'Follow me', then remember what you preached. Don't refuse! Be obedient as you said of the great departed Pope. That touched my heart. The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort either, but for greatness, for good."
With Benedict XVI by you
Gänswein also goes into the fact that Schönborn and Ratzinger were on first-name terms in his book. Gänswein writes that apart from Benedikt's childhood friends, Cardinal Schönborn, who belonged to Ratzinger's circle of students, was one of the few who addressed his former teacher as you.
The second episode described in Gänswein's book - a short but very personal conversation between the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI. and Cardinal Schönborn - also happened like this, confirmed the Archbishop of Vienna.
Cardinal Vienna confirms statements made by Benedict XVI's private secretary: "Yes, that was the case. I have deliberately kept silent about it until now." Reprimand for publication: "Unproper indiscretion."
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn was the person who encouraged Joseph Ratzinger to accept the conclave's decision if he was elected pope. This small "revelation" can be found in the book entitled "Nothing but the Truth" ( "Nient'altro che la verita" ) written by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the long-time secretary of the Pope, which was published in Italian last week.
On Wednesday, Cardinal Schönborn confirmed Gänswein's statements that he, Schönborn, had written "a little letter to Cardinal Ratzinger just in case" before the conclave. "Yes, that was the case. But until now I have deliberately kept silent about it, although it happened within the framework of the Cardinal Assembly and not at the conclave itself ," said the Archbishop of Vienna.
At the same time, the cardinal distanced himself from Gänswein's book project, calling it an "inappropriate indiscretion". Schönborn literally: "I don't think it's right that such confidential things are published, especially by the personal secretary."
Pope's "guillotine" speech
Specifically, the private secretary of Benedict XVI. in his book in the chapter on "Schönborns Brief" ( "La lettera di Schönborn") to a speech by the newly elected Pope a few days earlier to a group of German pilgrims on April 25, 2005. At that time, Benedict XVI spoke. surprisingly open about his feelings at the conclave and said: "When slowly the course of the votes made me realize that the ax was about to fall on me, so to speak, I felt dizzy. (...) I said to the Lord with deep conviction: Don't do this to me! You have younger and better people who can approach this great task with a completely different vigor and strength. A small letter touched me very much,
The fact that the "fellow brother" mentioned by the Pope meant Cardinal Schönborn has only now been made public with his book by Gänswein.
And what was the content of the letter? Also about it Benedict XVI. detailed information in the speech to his compatriots at the time: "He (Schönborn, note) reminded me that I had placed the sermon at the service for John Paul II from the gospel under the word that the Lord at the Sea of Galilee to Peter said: Follow me! I had shown how Karol Wojtyla received this call from the Lord again and again and had to give up a lot and simply say: Yes, I will follow you, even if you lead me where I didn't want to go.
The brother (Schönborn, note) wrote to me: If the Lord should now say to you 'Follow me', then remember what you preached. Don't refuse! Be obedient as you said of the great departed Pope. That touched my heart. The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort either, but for greatness, for good."
With Benedict XVI by you
Gänswein also goes into the fact that Schönborn and Ratzinger were on first-name terms in his book. Gänswein writes that apart from Benedikt's childhood friends, Cardinal Schönborn, who belonged to Ratzinger's circle of students, was one of the few who addressed his former teacher as you.
The second episode described in Gänswein's book - a short but very personal conversation between the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI. and Cardinal Schönborn - also happened like this, confirmed the Archbishop of Vienna.
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