Pope Benedict's brother says he knew of resignation several months ago

Pope Benedict's brother says he
knew of resignation several months ago
Georg Ratzinger, 89, accepts brother's decision to step
down, saying Benedict had done 'everything he possibly could'

تكبير الصورة تصغير الصورة تم تعديل ابعاد هذه الصورة. انقر هنا لمعاينتها بأبعادها الأصلية.
Pope Benedict's brother says he knew of resignation several months ago Feb12_44

Pope Benedict's brother says he knew of resignation several months ago Feb12_44

Pope
Benedict XVI's older brother, Georg Ratzinger. The brothers’ relationship has
been described as symbiotic. Photograph: Frank Jordan/Associated Press
Pope Benedict's older brother has spoken of how he
managed to keep silent for months about the pontiff's resignation plans, despite
knowing the news would stun the world.
Georg Ratzinger, 89, who has a close relationship
with his brother, admitted he had known when the news was due to break, Spiegel
Online reported.
He told the news website on Monday he had sat in
front of his radio in his flat in the southern city of Regensburg listening to
the 12 o'clock news bulletin on his favourite station, Bayern-4-Klassik, waiting
for the headline that he knew was going to shock the world.
"The truth is, in old age your powers start to
wane," he said, adding that his brother would soon be 86, "an age that not
everyone is able to experience". He said the pope's doctor had advised him
against taking long journeys and that he was finding walking increasingly
difficult.
Ratzinger, a priest and former choirmaster at
Regensburg cathedral, said his brother had told him of his decision in person
several months ago, reportedly during the summer holiday they spent together,
including at the pope's retreat of Castel Gandolfo.
"I didn't offer him any advice in what are very
personal circumstances," he said. "And I certainly didn't try to influence him.
The responsibility is his and his alone, the decision is one he reached
himself," he said.

تكبير الصورةتصغير الصورة تم تعديل ابعاد هذه الصورة. انقر هنا لمعاينتها بأبعادها الأصلية.
Pope Benedict's brother says he knew of resignation several months ago Feb12_47

Pope Benedict's brother says he knew of resignation several months ago Feb12_47

The
Ratzinger family in 1938, from right to left: father Josef, sister Maria, mother
Maria and brothers Georg and Joseph. Photograph: Getty Images
Ratzinger has always been open about the frailty
of his brother – sometimes even being chastised by Vatican officials alarmed at
his frankness with reporters, particularly after he revealed Benedict had
suffered a heart attack.
Before his brother was elected pope, Ratzinger
commented: "I hope the chalice passes him by", and urged the cardinals to choose
"a somewhat younger pope".
He expressed only guarded relief that his brother
was soon to leave the post. "I accept the decision which has positive and both
negative consequences," he said, adding that Benedict's time in office had been
"rich in blessings for the church", with the pontiff having "stood up to
difficult tasks" and "done everything he possibly could".
Ratzinger would not be drawn on reports that he
might move into the Vatican cloister, which his brother is due to retire to, but
said they had made plans to spend the summer together. He said a cloister "is
the only option", and a return to Germany was not likely.
The house the brothers shared from 1969 in
Pentling, a municipality of Regensburg, had been sold, he said. "The house in
Pentling no longer belongs to us," he said. "And even if it did, it wouldn't be
possible for him to live there" due to both security and mobility
concerns.
The brothers' relationship has been described as
symbiotic. They speak at least once a week on the telephone and are known to
play four-handed duets on the piano.
When Benedict visited his native Bavaria in 2006,
the brothers often walked hand in hand. They also made a joint visit to the
grave of their parents and sister Maria, who maintained the house for them until
her death in 1991. Both had expressed a wish to enter the priesthood from an
early age.
Ratzinger hoped he would now be able to spend more
time with his brother. He added: "I wish us both to be spared from further
health problems, until the dear Jesus Christ comes to fetch
us."