The case of emeritus pope
Benedict XVI apparently coming out against Pope Francis'
possible ordination of married priests in the Amazon and other
outlying regions is closed, Francis told journalist Eugenio
Scalfari in an interview with La Repubblica daily Thursday.
Benedict's staunch defence of priestly celibacy in a book he
apparently co-authored with a high-ranking conservative cleric
caused a row in Church circles, with the German ex-pope accused
of undermining his successor.
The controversial book by Cardinal Robert Sarah about
priestly celibacy came out in France Wednesday with Benedict's
name on it as co-author.
Benedict requested his name be removed from the book after it
caused a furore for saying that celibacy is of "great
significance" as it ensures clergymen can focus on their job.
Pope Francis is considering a proposal to allow married men
to be ordained in the Amazon region.
ANSA could testify that the book, From the Depth of Our
Hearts, was on the shelves of France's biggest book chain, FNAC,
on Wednesday.
Another book trader said that the second edition will come
out differently, stating that it was produced "with the
collaboration of Benedict XVI".
Benedict XVI's personal secretary Georg Gänswein told ANSA on
Tuesday that "the pope emeritus knew that the cardinal (Sarah)
was preparing a book and he sent him a text on the priesthood
authorizing him to use it as he wanted.
"But he did not approve a project for a co-authored book and
he had not seen or authorized the cover".
Benedict became the first pope to resign in almost 600 years
when he stepped down in 2013.
At the time the 92-year-old German said he would remain
"hidden from the world" during his retirement.
In the La Repubblica interview Thursday, Francis also told
Scalfari that "the Church embraces millions of people, and there
is always someone contrary".
Scalfari, who founded liberal daily La Repubblica in the mid
1970s, is considered a dean of Italian journalism.
An atheist, he has recently had several interviews with
Francis in which he supports the Argentine pope's
progressive-minded and green-friedly moves.
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