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| Pope Benedict's age and declining strength quells conspiracy theories | Pope Benedict's age and declining strength quells conspiracy theories |
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| For Angelo Sodano, dean of the college of cardinals, it was a "bolt from the blue". As Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to carry out the first papal resignation since 1415, he left those assembled stunned and incredulous. The Catholic world reeled. From Manila to Mexico, from Santiago to St Peter's square, the question everyone wanted answered was: why? | For Angelo Sodano, dean of the college of cardinals, it was a "bolt from the blue". As Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to carry out the first papal resignation since 1415, he left those assembled stunned and incredulous. The Catholic world reeled. From Manila to Mexico, from Santiago to St Peter's square, the question everyone wanted answered was: why? |
| In his address, read tremulously but with resolve in Latin, Benedict gave his reasons; they were straightforward enough, if a little vague. He was stepping down, he explained, because of his "advanced age" and declining strengths, both of mind and body. His own, he said, had "deteriorated in me to the extent that I have to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me". And that, the Vatican insisted, was that. | In his address, read tremulously but with resolve in Latin, Benedict gave his reasons; they were straightforward enough, if a little vague. He was stepping down, he explained, because of his "advanced age" and declining strengths, both of mind and body. His own, he said, had "deteriorated in me to the extent that I have to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me". And that, the Vatican insisted, was that. |
| At a press conference arranged hurriedly by a Holy See that seemed almost as shocked as everyone else, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the 85-year-old's "personal decision" had been made in recent months without any external pressure. | At a press conference arranged hurriedly by a Holy See that seemed almost as shocked as everyone else, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the 85-year-old's "personal decision" had been made in recent months without any external pressure. |
| He ruled out depression or theological uncertainty as motives, and rejected the idea that a specific illness – whether of the mind or body – had prompted the pope to act. "It was his personal decision taken in complete freedom," said Lombardi. "And which merits maximum respect," he added. | He ruled out depression or theological uncertainty as motives, and rejected the idea that a specific illness – whether of the mind or body – had prompted the pope to act. "It was his personal decision taken in complete freedom," said Lombardi. "And which merits maximum respect," he added. |
| The timing of the announcement was certainly unexpected – a source said there had been no whisper in the Vatican City of the pope's intentions over the weekend. | The timing of the announcement was certainly unexpected – a source said there had been no whisper in the Vatican City of the pope's intentions over the weekend. |
| Italy, meanwhile, has been fixated on impending parliamentary elections for weeks. But many said the announcement itself was less out of the blue – and that the signs, for those who were looking, were there. They were enough for one prelate, the former bishop of Ivrea, Luigi Bettazzi, to speculate publicly a year ago that Benedict might end up resigning – for reasons no more sinister than the fact that he was, after all, an elderly man and "very tired". | Italy, meanwhile, has been fixated on impending parliamentary elections for weeks. But many said the announcement itself was less out of the blue – and that the signs, for those who were looking, were there. They were enough for one prelate, the former bishop of Ivrea, Luigi Bettazzi, to speculate publicly a year ago that Benedict might end up resigning – for reasons no more sinister than the fact that he was, after all, an elderly man and "very tired". |
| It was a scenario that Benedict had himself evoked in 2010 when interviewed for the book Light of the World – though not in direct reference to himself. "If a pope clearly realises that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of an office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign," he said. | It was a scenario that Benedict had himself evoked in 2010 when interviewed for the book Light of the World – though not in direct reference to himself. "If a pope clearly realises that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of an office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign," he said. |
| Having watched at close quarters the gradual decline of his much-loved predecessor, John Paul II, the pope was perhaps speaking from experience. | Having watched at close quarters the gradual decline of his much-loved predecessor, John Paul II, the pope was perhaps speaking from experience. |
| One veteran Vatican observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that – for this reason precisely – he had half expected Benedict to end his papacy in this manner. "At the end of the papacy of Pope John Paul II, he was an old man struggling with old age and severely bad health and I thought, in a sense, he was not able to govern the church as he would have wished," said the observer. | One veteran Vatican observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that – for this reason precisely – he had half expected Benedict to end his papacy in this manner. "At the end of the papacy of Pope John Paul II, he was an old man struggling with old age and severely bad health and I thought, in a sense, he was not able to govern the church as he would have wished," said the observer. |
| "Pope Benedict XVI has recognised this. He has spoken repeatedly about growing old with dignity." | "Pope Benedict XVI has recognised this. He has spoken repeatedly about growing old with dignity." |
| George Ferzoco, a research fellow of Bristol University, said he believed it was "quite clear" in hindsight that resignation was something on the pope's mind. | George Ferzoco, a research fellow of Bristol University, said he believed it was "quite clear" in hindsight that resignation was something on the pope's mind. |
| A specialist in Celestine V – the 13th-century pope who first allowed popes to resign and then did so himself, Ferzoco pointed out that Benedict had visited his medieval predecessor's tomb not once but twice. "I think the amount of attention he drew to Celestine was an indication of this matter having been on his mind," said Ferzoco. "I think it's quite clear." | A specialist in Celestine V – the 13th-century pope who first allowed popes to resign and then did so himself, Ferzoco pointed out that Benedict had visited his medieval predecessor's tomb not once but twice. "I think the amount of attention he drew to Celestine was an indication of this matter having been on his mind," said Ferzoco. "I think it's quite clear." |
| In 2005, the 78-year-old Benedict was the oldest person to have been elected Pope since Clement XII in the 18th century. He had been planning a peaceful retirement in Bavaria – a well-deserved break, he must have thought, after many years in the notoriously arduous post of cardinal-prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). | In 2005, the 78-year-old Benedict was the oldest person to have been elected Pope since Clement XII in the 18th century. He had been planning a peaceful retirement in Bavaria – a well-deserved break, he must have thought, after many years in the notoriously arduous post of cardinal-prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). |
| As pope, Benedict travelled far and wide but his physical frailty was becoming increasingly noticeable in recent years. He had already suffered a haemorrhagic stroke which temporarily affected his vision in 1991, and now has arthritis. He sometimes walks with a cane and has, in the last year or so, been using a moving belt to travel the 100 yards down the aisle of St Peter's. | As pope, Benedict travelled far and wide but his physical frailty was becoming increasingly noticeable in recent years. He had already suffered a haemorrhagic stroke which temporarily affected his vision in 1991, and now has arthritis. He sometimes walks with a cane and has, in the last year or so, been using a moving belt to travel the 100 yards down the aisle of St Peter's. |
| Benedict's time as the head of the Catholic church has been particularly turbulent. A Vatican spokesman ruled out the possibility that "difficulties in the papacy" had caused him to step down, but the string of controversies that plagued him are likely to have taken their toll. | Benedict's time as the head of the Catholic church has been particularly turbulent. A Vatican spokesman ruled out the possibility that "difficulties in the papacy" had caused him to step down, but the string of controversies that plagued him are likely to have taken their toll. |
| On Benedict's watch, the church has been beset by revelations of child abuse and plunged into crisis over the Vatileaks scandal. Question-marks over the Vatican Bank's ability to deal with money laundering have lingered despite efforts – championed personally by Benedict – to put in place mechanisms to assuage those concerns. | On Benedict's watch, the church has been beset by revelations of child abuse and plunged into crisis over the Vatileaks scandal. Question-marks over the Vatican Bank's ability to deal with money laundering have lingered despite efforts – championed personally by Benedict – to put in place mechanisms to assuage those concerns. |
| With such a record, it is little wonder, perhaps, that some observers suspect there may be more to Benedict's resignation than meets the eye. | With such a record, it is little wonder, perhaps, that some observers suspect there may be more to Benedict's resignation than meets the eye. |
| But, for the moment, conspiracy theories are being treated as just that. Many observers, including Giovanni Grasso, the author of several books on the church, prefer an explanation already given to them by the leading Italian film director Nanni Moretti. In 2011, his film, Habemus Papam, told the fictional story of a cardinal who, upon being elected pope, rebels, flees, and finally decides, quite simply, that the job is not for him. | But, for the moment, conspiracy theories are being treated as just that. Many observers, including Giovanni Grasso, the author of several books on the church, prefer an explanation already given to them by the leading Italian film director Nanni Moretti. In 2011, his film, Habemus Papam, told the fictional story of a cardinal who, upon being elected pope, rebels, flees, and finally decides, quite simply, that the job is not for him. |
| "Today everyone thinks like me – that there is no hidden reason for it [the resignation]," said Grasso. "But maybe tomorrow or the day after, we will discover something after all." | "Today everyone thinks like me – that there is no hidden reason for it [the resignation]," said Grasso. "But maybe tomorrow or the day after, we will discover something after all." |
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