Many conservative critics long for Benedict’s more doctrinaire papacy and question his decision to resign. In a second letter to Brandmueller, whose reply Bild hasn’t released, Benedict said he could understand the “deep-seated pain” the end of his papacy caused. “By this, a papacy itself is now being devalued and melted into the sorrow about the situation in which the church currently finds itself.”That is leading to “a new kind of agitation,” Benedict added. The letter didn’t elaborate on the situation of the church. The Vatican declined to confirm or deny the authenticity of the letters, or comment on them.

Source: National Post September 21, 2018 09:29 UTC