Pope Allegedly Sought IMMUNITY For ABUSE CRIMES Just Before Resigning

[DonViejo]

84. No, he's been thinking about it for at least

two years that are publicly known. Somewhere here on DU is an OP with excerpts of an interview Benny gave to a European publication two years ago. His response to a question about the possibility of resigning was well thought out, strongly indicating he'd considered the issue. The Pope's brother has given interviews indicating he and the Pope had discussed his resigning the papacy for more than a year.

IMHO, a perfect storm has occurred, the financial scandals, the Pope's obvious age, combined with his declining health, as well as the sex abuse scandal(s) have all taken a toll on Benny. But I also believe he was gently nudged into resigning; the College of Cardinals want to bring all these scandals to a close and focus on other things, e.g., the evangelization of Roman Catholicism in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He's leaving the papacy on Feb 28, to live in Castle Gondolfo (summer residence of the Popes), while remodeling of a convent within Vatican City is completed. When that construction is completed, Benny will leave the Castle and move into the room(s) at the convent. Interestingly, the convent is cloistered, meaning Benny's public life will be be finished and he won't be speaking, at least in public.

I've lived in a cloistered residence, the only time we were permitted to speak was meal time. Other cloistered facilities are even stricter.