On February 28, 2013, Joseph Ratzinger (the real name of the Pope) renounced the post of head of the Catholic Church.

This news stunned not only Catholics, but also the whole world.

Before Benedict XVI, this happened almost 600 years ago.



The pope's abdication gave rise to many theories, including conspiracy theories.

There is no point in listing them, because it is simply impossible to confirm them.

But the most important thing is that Benedict XVI explained the reason for his step in detail.

This is a state of health.

Many did not believe it, because Roman pontiffs die at work, serve to the last, even if they have to be supported by hands or carried on a cart.

Moreover, everyone who was interested saw that even after the abdication, Benedict XVI was in a sober mind, gave interviews, met with friends and lived for almost 9 years.

So what's the problem then?

Why was there a renunciation, having power over more than a billion Catholics?

The answer to this question is the whole of Benedict XVI - a bold thinker and a monk.

"I am grateful to God that I am not burdened by the responsibility that I am no longer able to bear"

In 2016, the German journalist and biographer of Benedict XVI, Peter Seewald, published a book of conversations with the pontiff, which he conducted before and after abdication - "Benedict XVI.

Last conversations".

By the way, before the beginning of these conversations, Seewald called himself an atheist and was close to communism, and after the conversations with Ratzinger, he and his family returned to Catholicism.

In conversations with a journalist, the pope frankly told that neither the gay lobby, nor the Vatileaks scandal, nor his fight against priests who sexually abused believers are behind his resignation.

Ratzinger lived in the Vatican for 40 years.

What could shock him there?

The pontiff's explanation was very simple.

After traveling to Cuba and Mexico, he realized that his age and health prevented him from doing his job well.

It was after that that he gradually began to think that he should give up his post.

"I understood that, in fact, I would be able to give a little," the pope said in an interview with Seewald.

A person who has grown up in an authoritarian system and has become accustomed to leaders who are ready to rule until their own death at any cost, can take with distrust such an explanation of giving up absolute power, own plane, residences, security and flashing lights on the car that emphasize your importance.

Why give up power when you're sick?

You have a healing mission that can repair you a little.

Why give up power when you're barely off the runway?

There is a cortege and dedicated cameramen who will shoot as needed.

Why give up power, if instead of a normal conversation you start raving and finally turn into an eccentric?

There is propaganda that will "explain" everything.

We see these pictures daily.

And not only among dictators.

In democracies, politicians also often seek to return to power,

using different combinations.

Power is a drug.

But not for everyone.

Benedict XVI after the last audience, February 2013.

"Power is not power, but responsibility"

For someone, power is a value in itself, it is the meaning of life.

Lukashenka has no idea what he would have to do in the morning if he woke up no longer as the president.



For Benedict XVI, power was only an instrument through which he could do something useful for his community.

Back in 2010, he said that "if the pope is physically or mentally unable to exercise his authority, he has the right, and sometimes the duty, to resign."

And when he felt that he would be useless in his position, he left it.

And as the pope told Seewald: "There was no painful internal torture when I made the decision to renounce my position."

Benedict XVI made the decision "with ease, because he understood the responsibility and burden of his work."



"I never perceived this "power" in the sense that I have some kind of power.

I perceived it as a responsibility, as something heavy that surpasses me;

as something that requires me to answer on a daily basis whether I have accepted this assignment.

And I have always known that when it comes to the applause of the masses, it is not for me, the little man, but for the One I represent.

Therefore, it was not difficult for me to refuse," the pope explained.



When asked if he is missing something after abdicating, Benedict XVI replied: "Absolutely not.

On the contrary, I am grateful to God for the fact that I am not burdened by a responsibility that I would no longer be able to bear, that I can walk humbly with Him on my own path every day, live among friends and meet them."



Joseph Ratzinger, who was called the "tank cardinal" because of his conservatism, revolutionized the papacy.

Thanks to him, the position of the Pope became more modern, closer to the people and to his roots.



In Fernando Meirelles' film "Two Popes", where the role of Benedict XVI was played by the inimitable Anthony Hopkins, one of the cardinals during the selection of the new pope quoted Plato's statement to another: "The best leader is the one who does not want to be one."

The cardinal addressed these words to the future Pope Francis, who allegedly avoided the papal office.

But they also perfectly suit Benedict XVI, who gave up power for life because he did not want to be a bad ruler.

The opinions expressed in the blogs represent the views of the authors themselves and do not necessarily reflect the position of the editors.

  • Dmitry Gurnevich

    Journalist of Radio Svaboda

    hurnievicd@rferl.org

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