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August 21st, 2013 
Peter Nolan
The conversation between Benedict and the confidante took place in Mater
Ecclesiae, the former convent within the walls of the Vatican that has been
converted into a retirement home for the German former pope.
Vatican sources confirmed the veracity of the report but declined to reveal
the identity of the person that Benedict spoke to.
“The report is reliable, without a doubt, although this is not an
official Vatican statement or position,” an insider told The Daily
Telegraph.
Benedict surprised the world, including cardinals and close aides within the
Vatican, when he unexpectedly announced his intention to resign on Feb 11.
He made the announcement during a gathering of cardinals in the Vatican,
choosing to deliver the bombshell in Latin.
Many of the cardinals did not immediately understand what he had said, but the
news was picked up by a sharp-eared correspondent from Ansa, the Italian
news agency, who happened to be well versed in Latin and landed herself a
worldwide scoop.
Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, left the Vatican for the last
time as Pope just over two weeks later, flying off in a white helicopter to
Castel Gandolfo, a hilltop castle outside Rome used as a papal retreat
during the hot summer months.
Pope Francis was elected as the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years, and
the first from the Americas, during a secret conclave of 115 cardinals in
March.
Benedict returned to live in the Vatican in May, saying that he would remain “hidden
from the world”, devoting the rest of his life to prayer and
theological study.
His remarks will do little to dampen speculation about the more worldly
reasons for his departure.
Although old and frail, he does not appear to be suffering from any specific
illness, prompting speculation about his true motives.
His papacy, which began in 2005, was mired in controversy, including scandals
over paedophile priests in Catholic dioceses around the world, allegations
of money laundering by the Vatican bank, and intrigue within the Curia, the
powerful but secretive Vatican administration.
It has been claimed that he was deeply hurt by the betrayal of his butler,
Paolo Gabriele, who stole confidential Vatican documents and handed them to
an Italian investigative journalist who published them in a bestselling
book.
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