VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Former Pope Benedict has accused conservative Roman Catholics who did not accept his decision to resign as “fanatic” by telling them there is only one Pope and that is Francis.
Benedict, now 93, became the first pope in more than 600 years in 2013 to resign instead of ruling for life, saying he no longer had the strength to run the church of 1.3 billion members.
Some hardline conservatives unhappy with the more liberal Pope Francis have often expressed doubts about whether Benedict resigned voluntarily, even though he has said several times in the past eight years that he did.
“It was a tough decision. But it was a fully conscious choice and I think I did well (by stepping down), ”he told Italy’s Corriere della Sera in an interview published Monday.
“Some of my more fanatic friends are still upset, they have not accepted my choice.”
Benedict, who lives in a house in the Vatican Gardens, said those who refuse to accept his resignation harbor “ conspiracy theories ” he should have given up over scandals such as the leakage of some of his documents by his butler.
“They don’t want to believe it was a conscious choice,” he said. “My conscience is clear.”
Apparently Benedict was addressing those who still look up to him as the real Pope and are hostile to Francis: “There is only one Pope.”
The interviewer said Benedict had emphasized the point by banging on the arm of his chair.
The presence in the Vatican of both a Pope and a former Pope entitled “Pope Emeritus”, also dressed in white, irritated some Catholics.
Prominent church figures have called for new rules stipulating that popes who resign resume the lower office of cardinal, do not wear white, and do not make statements on doctrines.
Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Kevin Liffey