The Shadow Pope

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BBC Radio 4 - The Shadow Pope

Edward Stourton explores the tensions caused by the presence of two popes in the Vatican.

Edward Stourton examines claims that tensions between rival supporters of Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict have hampered reforms and undermined Church unity.

It is almost a decade since the dramatic resignation of Pope Benedict. In that time, the Pope Emeritus, now in his 90s, has lived quietly in a monastery within the precincts of Vatican City. Yet many Catholics believe his shadowy presence has served as a lightning rod for division. 

A recent book by respected Italian journalist Massimo Franco claims a rival court has grown up around Benedict, attracting traditionalists who feel alienated by the direction taken by Pope Francis. Benedict’s supporters have real power within the Vatican and have clashed with Pope Francis on major issues, including priestly celibacy, the role of women and whether Catholics who support abortion rights should receive Holy Communion.
 
Has Benedict’s long retirement contributed to these internal divisions? Given the contrasting approaches of Benedict and Francis, it was perhaps inevitable that the Church would find itself embroiled in the wider culture wars. The post-retirement Benedict may never have actively sought the role of conservative champion, yet many insist on viewing him in that light. Similarly, Pope Francis’s preoccupation with some issues of social justice has seen him categorised, perhaps simplistically, as a liberal.
 
Edward Stourton examines the evidence. He recalls the unexpectedness of Benedict’s abdication in February 2013, and the sheer theatre of his exit from St Peter’s. Benedict cited old age and looming infirmity, yet there was much speculation at the time about his true motives. While he remains hugely popular in traditionalist circles, his legacy holds less weight among progressive Catholics, not least in Benedict’s native Germany.
 
Has Benedict’s successor, Pope Francis, been constrained by the existence of a rival court around Benedict? Early expectations that he would be a liberal reformer haven’t been fulfilled. Free of Benedict’s shadowy presence, might Francis have been more proactive?
 
Few dispute that the past decade has had a profound impact on how the office is viewed. We end by asking how this might affect the succession and the church’s future direction.
 
Producer: Hugh Costello
Executive Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

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