Pope Francis meets Benedict’s top aide as memoir rattles Vatican

By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Monday privately met Archbishop Georg Ganswein, former Pope Benedict’s closest aide, who has rattled the Vatican with a book describing what he says were the strains while two men wearing white lived within its ancient walls.
The Vatican’s daily bulletin listed Ganswein in the pope’s schedule of audiences but as is customary gave no details.
Hours after Benedict was buried on Thursday, an Italian publishing house sent some news outlets including Reuters advance copies of Ganswein’s 330-page “Nothing But The Truth – My Life Beside Benedict XVI”.
Ganswein, 66, was Benedict’s personal secretary from 2003, when Benedict was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and remained as his side for nearly 20 years until his death on Dec. 31. He was also Francis’ gatekeeper until the two had a falling out.
The main question now facing Francis is what position to give Ganswein. Many are waiting to see if he will get another job in the Vatican …