Benedict XVI’s resignation was the ‘darkest point’ of his papacy: “Because until today … the real reasons of this resignation [are inexplicable]. Because of course in the Church there were popes who abdicated … but in all the different cases, there was always a really important reason. And today it’s not so clear what is the real reason.”
“He dressed in white. He gave the apostolic benediction. And so the common people had the idea of two popes, Benedict and Francis. But a diarchy is impossible in the Catholic Church … ”
Benedict himself played a significant role in creating the “confusion” that has become a distinguishing characteristic of Francis’ pontificate.
One more comment from Sally Dorman
“The existence of strong pressures is nothing new in the history of the Church,” he said. “And we can quote hundred of examples of this strong political pressure … from France, Spain, Germany. The Church and the popes have always resisted it … And so we can imagine, of course, the existence of plots, plans for intervening in the conclave.”
Most interesting observation: A pope could say, for example, "I am obliged to abdicate for having fought the pressures,'” But: "Benedict always denied these pressures. So I don’t think that he was a liar.”