Pope Francis has told a former student that he would be “foolish” not to take advice from Pope-emeritus Benedict. “You cannot begin to imagine how humble and wise this man is,” the Pope told Jorge Milia, an Argentine journalist, referring to his predecessor. “There is not way I would turn down advice from someone like him.”
However the Pope indicated that he is not equally anxious to accept advice from others at the Vatican.
During his phone conversation with his former student, the Pontiff said that he has struggled to preserve his independence and to manage his own affairs, rather than allowing Vatican aides to manage him.
He told Milia that he chose not to live in the papal apartments because he did not want to be a “captive” of the staff.