May 21, 2023 (Steven O’Reilly) – Seven years ago on May 20, 2016, Gänswein gave a speech on the occasion of the launch of Fr. Regoli’s book on the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. Benepapists seized upon some of the lines of the speech to claim Gänswein’s words prove that Benedict intended to remain pope in some fashion. This one speech, more than any other thing as I reckon it, helped launch the “Benedict is (still) Pope” (BiP) theory (aka Benepapism) in all its ‘glory.’ For those who have not read it, you may find Gänswein’s Translated Speech here.
Seven years on, arch-Benepapists are still claiming the speech proves their case (for example, see Barnhardt). Yet, the reality is such Benepapists who still maintain this simply ignore counter-arguments which demonstrate the document does not prove what they allege.
Such Benepapist failures to deal with counter-arguments are not limited to Gänswein’s speech. For example, Roma Locuta Est took a close look at Benedict XVI’s last audience, and demonstrated the Benepapists have grossly misinterpreted it. The errors of the Benepapists with regard to Benedict’s last audience were set forth in articles which have appeared here on Roma Locuta Est (see Regarding Benedict’s Last Audience), on OnePeterFive (see Whither Benepapism?), and in various videos (see RLE Considers Episode 8: “The ‘Always’ is also a ‘For Ever’” (Part 1 of 2), and RLE Considers Episode 9: “The ‘Always’ is also a ‘For ever’” (Part 2 of 2)). [NB: there are currently 9 episodes on Benepapism (see HERE)].
The Benepapists cannot provide any real counter-argument on the ‘last audience.’ For example, Dr. Edmund Mazza recently published a book which discusses Benedict’s resignation. Yet, although he continues to cite the original Benepapist talking points on the ‘last audience,’ he simply ignores the arguments against his interpretation of the ‘last audience’ (see A Rebuttal of Dr. Mazza’s book on Pope Benedict’s Resignation).
As with the Benepapist failure to address the problems with their interpretation of the Last Audience, so too have they failed to address the counter-arguments to their interpretation of Gänswein’s speech – even seven years after the speech was first given. Roma Locuta Est provided a detailed review of Gänswein’s speech, as well as answers to the specific claims of the Benepapists. One can read my response to the Benepapists in the article titled: Regarding Ganswein’s speech.
In addition to the available resources above, which answer the false claims of the Benepapists, one can check out my recently published book Valid? The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. While my book does devote specific separate chapters to both the ‘last audience’ and Gänswein’s speech, the book responds to whole host of Benepapist claims and objections in a useful objection/reply to the objection format.
Steven O’Reilly is a graduate of the University of Dallas and the Georgia Institute of Technology. A former intelligence officer, he and his wife, Margaret, live near Atlanta. He has written apologetic articles, and is author of Book I of the Pia Fidelis trilogy, The Two Kingdoms; and of Valid? The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. (Follow on twitter at @fidelispia for updates). He asks for your prayers for his intentions. He can be contacted at StevenOReilly@AOL.com or StevenOReilly@ProtonMail.com (or follow on Twitter: @S_OReilly_USA or on GETTR, TruthSocial, or Gab: @StevenOReilly).
Roma Locuta Est 