Journalists in the Vatican need excitement. They have used up all the possible ways to undermine Pope Francis and now desire to undermine the veracity of the Pope Emeritus' statement that he could not manage the papacy.
I personally find these article cynical and doubtful of the truthfulness of one who will be a doctor of the Church someday.
I also find that the idea of two popes is so ridiculous that I am surprised Rorate published these fascinating but damaging articles.
What is the point of making Benedict look like a liar?
What is the point of implying that the Holy Spirit could not guide Francis without Benedict?
What is the point of using an inflammatory phrase like "two popes"?
This idea plays into some of the traditional Catholics who may fall into schism. This type of journalism causes doubt and uncertainty and it both anti-papal and anti-Catholic.
Benedict retired, and he told us via symbols he would retire years before he did. I was not surprised.
I personally believed God inspired Benedict to so so.
The office of the papacy is not primarily political but spiritual. Sadly, those Italian journalists do not understand this.
They do not understand that the Church is not in the hands of men but in the Hands of God.
Conspiracy theorists would be better off praying and meditating on the Life of Christ, going to Adoration, and basically becoming holy rather than writing about behind the door activities.
This is a rant!