Pope emeritus in new book: Priests must live in celibacy

He has been called the scandal. Now known as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

In 600 years, no one else had left his role as bishop of Rome and St. Peter's successor until Benedict XVI announced this sudden and unexpected decision in February 2013.

But he could no longer remain silent in the new book, reports the BBC.

The now 92-year-old retired pope's criticism is that it is not possible to reconcile clergy with marriage. Marriage requires a man to dedicate himself fully to the family, according to Benedict XVI according to AP.

"Because serving the Lord requires the total gift of a man, it does not seem possible to carry both tasks at the same time," the 92-year-old writes in the book.

The debate about tightening the rules around priests' demands to live in celibacy has been sparked by the fact that parishes in the Amazon rainforest area are having difficulty obtaining priests.

Pope Francis was then recommended by 184 bishops, who had gathered for a church meeting, synod, at the Vatican last fall that morally decent men should be exempted from the rule.

The Vatican tones down the whole thing and believes that the Pope Emeritus written is nothing that contradicts the current Pope's attitude, the AP writes.

At the same time, it is a kind of violation to speak out and settle into matters involving a sitting pope, according to a BBC theologian talked to.

Pope Francis, who is more liberal than his predecessor, is expected to write a document and weigh in with views based on what the Synod came to in October.

It is not clear whether the pope will meet the bishops. But he has previously pointed out that it is a tradition for priests to live in celibacy, not a doctrine. Thus, it would not be completely impossible to change, the AP writes.