Pope Benedict XVI was taken by surprise when the president of the
Vatican bank was fired, the former Pontiff’s personal secretary has
disclosed.
In an interview with the Italian daily Il Messaggero, Archbishop
Georg Gänswein revealed that Pope Benedict was “surprised, very
surprised” to learn that the board of the Institute for Religious Works
(IOR) had dismissed the president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi.
Archbishop
Gänswein said that Pope Benedict, who had appointed Gotti Tedeschi,
“held him in high esteem” and remained in touch with him after his
departure from the IOR.
Despite his admiration for the IOR leader, Pope Benedict chose not to
intervene in the case, Archbishop Gänswein said, because he respected
the professional competence of the board members involved in the
decision.
Nevertheless the fact that the Pontiff was not given prior
notice of the shocking dismissal helps to confirm reports of widespread
disarray in the administration of the Vatican during that period.
The firing of the IOR president was announced on the same day that the
former Pontiff’s valet, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested in the Vatileaks
scandal. Although the two events were not related, Archbishop Gänswein
acknowledges that the day was a difficult one for the Pontiff.
The German archbishop—who continues to act as personal secretary to
Pope-emeritus Benedict, while also serving as prefect of the pontifical
household under Pope Francis—told Il Messaggero that it is a
challenge to work with both men simultaneously.
“Fortunately there is a
relationship of sincere esteem and fraternal affection” between them, he
said.
Archbishop Gänswein scoffed at the suggestion that the presence
of Benedict XVI at the Vatican could lead to the rise of factions, or
contending parties appealing to the authority of the former Pontiff.
“Anyone who knows Benedict XVI knows this risk does not exist,” he said.
Archbishop Gänswein also dismissed the idea that Pope Francis plans a
radical change in direction at the Vatican.
Although the new Pope’s
personal style is quite different, he said, the idea that he is bringing
revolutionary change to the Church is nothing but a “frivolous slogan.”