Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
Aleteia logo

Pope Francis says he urged cardinals to support Ratzinger in 2005 conclave

francis and benedict – en

DR

Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 11/07/17

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

A little glimpse behind the scenes of the conclave that elected Benedict XVI:

Pope Francis has revealed that he urged his fellow cardinals to back Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. He said he had felt that the time was not yet right for a Latin American pope.

The revelation comes in a new interview book by an Argentinian journalist, Latinoamérica: Conversaciones con Hernán Reyes Alcaide. Reyes is the Rome correspondent of the Argentine news agency Telam.

The interview marked the tenth anniversary of a highly significant general conference of the Latin-American bishops in Aparecida, Brazil in May 2007, two years after Cardinal Ratzinger’s accession as Pope Benedict XVI.

In the 2005 conclave, according to the secret diary of an Italian cardinal revealed later that year, Cardinal Bergoglio had a lot of support from reformist cardinals – but he asked his fellow cardinals to give their support to Cardinal Ratzinger.

“Notwithstanding the action of the Holy Spirit that acts in the conclave, at that moment in history the only man with the stature, the wisdom and the necessary experience to be elected was Ratzinger,” Pope Francis said in the interview.

“Otherwise there existed the danger of electing a ‘compromise pope’. And electing a ‘compromise pope’ is not, let’s say, very Gospel-like.”

Read it all.

Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More