Pope Francis, 86, regularly grants river interviews.
The latest was collected on Tuesday - and published this Wednesday - by Nicole Winfield, in charge of the Vatican for the American agency
Associated Press
.
This interview is his first public speech, outside ceremonies, since the death of Benedict XVI on December 31, 2022. Francis took the opportunity to respond to the controversies that followed, including those of the private secretary of the German pope, Mgr Georg Gänswein, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, German, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and of Cardinal George Pell, Australian, who died on January 10.
The latter would have described the pontificate as a “catastrophe” and a “disaster” according to an initially anonymous text, now authenticated.
“Criticism is a right”
Answers from François: “
Criticism makes it possible to grow and improve things
”.
The pope also prefers that it expresses itself even if it
“disturbs a little
” and disturbs “the
tranquility
”.
He would prefer that "
there were no criticisms
" but "
they mean that there is freedom of speech
".
And even if they are only "
rashes
", the opposing voices are an antidote to "
the dictatorship of distance, when the emperor is there and no one can tell him anything
".
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The pope rejects any "
link
" between the death of Benedict XVI and the latest salvo of criticism to date.
Rather, he attributes them to “
the wear and tear of a 10-year government
”.
On March 13, 2023, Francis will indeed celebrate the tenth anniversary of his election.
He observes that “
when some started to see (his) faults, they didn't like them.
“And only “
requests one thing
”: that we speak “
in front
” and not behind his back.
As such, he pays homage to Cardinal Pell, who did not mince his words.
“ He
was a wonderful guy, brilliant,
” he said of the prelate to whom he had entrusted the reform of Vatican finances.
“
He had the right
” to criticize him, because “
criticism is a human right
”.
“Being gay is not a crime”
Would the recent charges lead Francis to give up?
He repeats that if he had to decide, which is not on the agenda, he would call himself "
bishop emeritus of Rome
" and not "
pope emeritus
" and that he would live in a house of priests. of the diocese.
He also considers it premature to decide legally on the situation of a retired pope.
As such, he pays strong homage to Benedict XVI, who was like a “
father
” to him.
“
If I had any doubts, I asked for a car and went upstairs to consult him,
” he reveals.
“
He was an old-fashioned lord
.”
He adds: “
some wanted to use it, he defended himself against it
”.
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On the other hand, Francis was very critical of the current synod of the German Church, led, according to him, by "
the elite
" and not by "
the people of God
": "
the danger is that something very , very ideological seeping
in” then “
the Holy Spirit goes home because ideology wins over the Holy Spirit
”.
And open on homosexuality: “
Being homosexual is not a crime, but a sin
”.
".
The Pope also gave a series of details about himself.
François says he is "
in good health
" but acknowledges that the diverticulosis for which he was operated on in the intestine on July 4, 2021 has "
come back
", ensuring however that "
everything is under control
".
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