The burial of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI may lead to an intensification of the struggles between conservatives and moderates within the Catholic church.
The burial of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI does not mark the end of the struggles between conservatives and moderates within the Catholic Church. In fact, it may be the beginning of their intensification.
For traditionalists, the pope emeritus represented solid Catholic doctrine, defense of the Catholic faith against the encroachments of the world and modernity and a steadying hand in troubled times
For traditionalists, or “trads” to those in the know, the pope emeritus represented solid Catholic doctrine, defense of the Catholic faith against the encroachments of the world and modernity and a steadying hand in troubled times. His conservative outlook on Catholic belief, faith and theology earned him the nickname “God’s Rottweiler.” To liberals who align more with Pope Francis and to those outside Catholicism, Benedict represented rigidity and restrictions. For both groups, his death is a watershed moment.
Outsiders may wonder why this is so. After all, after a series of regrettable circumstances, Benedict’s tenure ended with a resignation. His own butler’s stealing papal documents concerning corruption at the Vatican and leaking them to the press got its own scandalous name: “Vatileaks.” Although Benedict was the first pope to meet with sexual abuse survivors, during his papacy the church’s sexual abuse scandal continued to disrupt the church.
