Vatican: the secretary of Benedict XVI excluded from the entourage of Pope Francis

The prefect of the Pontifical House Mgr Georg Ganswein alongside Pope Francis, in November 2019. Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

In the Vatican, it is a sidelining that does not go unnoticed: that of Mgr Georg Gansweïn, German archbishop who is both personal secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and prefect of the Pontifical House, that is - say responsible for organizing the hearings of Pope Francis.

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With our correspondent in Rome, Eric Sénanque

Since January 15, he has not appeared in public. Usually alongside Pope Francis during his general audiences or welcoming guests of honor received by the sovereign pontiff, Archbishop Georg Gänswein is an absent person who is much talked about.

The Vatican has been forced to speak on the issue: according to the official communication of the small state, the 63-year-old German prelate was not dismissed as the German press was moved, but the rarity of these appearances would be due, according to the spokesman of the Holy See to a " redistribution of its tasks and commitments " within the Vatican. A formula that struggles to hide what still looks like being shelved.

Georg Gänswein is indeed one of the key figures in the scandal which shook the Vatican three weeks ago: the publication of a book which was allegedly co-written by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI criticizing the possible opening of the ordination of men married by François.

As secretary to the former German pope, Bishop Gansweïn is responsible for his writings and whether or not they are published to the general public. However, the publication of the book has sown confusion over interventionism on the pope emeritus over the choices of his successor.

If for now, the German remains officially prefect of the Pontifical House, this sidelining seems to prove that it seems impossible to serve two popes at the same time.

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  • Vatican
  • Pope Francis
  • Benedict XVI
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