Vatican Radio interviews Archbishop Georg Gänswein

(Vatican Radio) “In retreat, with my prayer, I will always be with you, and together we go forth with the Lord.” With these words, on February the 14th of last year, Pope Benedict XVI bade farewell to the priests of his diocese here in Rome, three days after the announcement of his resignation from the papal ministry. One year on, Vatican Radio’s Alessandro Gisotti spoke to Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Personal Secretary of the Pope Emeritus and Prefect of the Pontifical Household, to find out how Benedict XVI spent the first anniversary of that historic resignation.

Please find the interview text in English translation below:

February the 11th of this year was a day like any other: the morning started with Mass, then the breviary, then breakfast, and then the day continued. Of course, on this day there was also talk of February the 11th 2013, which was a historic day, unforgettable for all those who lived through it. We thought about it, we talked about it, but it made no difference to February the 11th 2014.

A year has passed since this historic move of resignation. How would you describe this unique period for Pope Benedict?

The key to understanding this period lies in what Pope Benedict himself said in his resignation speech: that is the reason. There are no other reasons. Anyone who looks for other reasons is speculating: they have nothing to do with it. It’s that he no longer had the strength, and a Pope was needed who had the strength to be a good leader for the Church of Christ. This is an act of love, a brave act, but also an act of great humility, of love towards the Lord and towards his Church. And maybe few people understood this straight away, and I think in this past year understanding has increased of the fact that this was a brave, revolutionary, humble act which will certainly bear fruits in the future.

Benedict XVI lives a life “hidden from the world”, just as he said. But it’s not isolated, this life. What strikes you most about the way in which the Pope Emeritus spends his days?

What Father Lombardi [Director of Vatican Radio] said – that Pope Benedict lives hidden, discreet, but not isolated – was nice, because discretion and reserve are often confused with isolation, and this isn’t true at all. Pope Benedict lives, as we know, in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, he has his daily rhythm: there are visits, there is correspondence, there is also lots of contact with the outside world… but he chose to live this way in order to pray for the Church and for his successor, and in this way he is at ease.

A year ago, many people feared this unprecedented, extraordinary coexistence of two Popes. But instead we see there is a naturalness in the relationship between these two servants of the Lord: they feel, as they have said, like brothers…

It’s true. Many people, I think, had this idea, or this doubt: can a coexistence between the Pope Emeritus and the current Pope really work? Anyone who knows Pope Benedict cannot have doubted that he would not interfere in the governance of his successor. And that’s how it has been. But it was nice that, immediately after his election, Pope Francis sought contact with his predecessor, and this initial contact was the start of a good, beautiful friendship which develops every day.

Many people would like to meet Pope Benedict again, would like to speak to him. We also know that many people write to Pope Benedict. What would you say to these faithful, and how does Pope Benedict receive this great love from so many?

This is a huge solace for Pope Benedict, which fills his heart with joy, but also with gratitude towards the people who care about him and towards the Lord. It’s clear – and here I ask for understanding – that it’s not possible for Pope Benedict to accept all requests to meet him, to see him, because there are too many. People write not only from Italy, but from the whole world. But for this sign of closeness, for this sign of love, of affection, Pope Benedict is very, very grateful.

Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s report: