Ratzinger, the answer on abuse: “I ask for forgiveness, but I’m not a liar”

Shame, pain and a request for forgiveness. Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in response to the report on sexual abuse committed in Munich, by priests, from 1945 to 2019, a period in which he too was responsible for the diocese, acknowledges that he had “great responsibilities in the Catholic Church” , and affirms that «the greater it is my pain for abuse and mistakes which occurred during the time of my mandate in their respective places. Every single case of sexual abuse is terrible and irreparable. To the victims of sexual abuse it goes my deep compassion and I regret each and every case“.

The two thousand pages of reports identify 497 victims of sexual abuse. Joseph Ratzinger was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, and was accused of “misconduct in four cases”. The dossier speaks of 235 guilty of abuse, including 173 priests and 9 deacons. The victims were mainly male children and adolescents, 60% of whom were between the ages of 8 and 14. But it is believed that the dimensions of the phenomenon were much larger.

Benedict XVI’s response is contained in a video in which the text is read, in German and Italian, by the private secretary Georg Gänswein. There is also an analysis edited by experts in canon law and the right to freedom of expression Stefan Mückl, Helmuth Pree, Stefan Korta and Carsten Brennecke, who explain, after the admission of Ratzinger’s participation in a meeting in 1980 in which he he spoke of a priest responsible for abuses, welcomed in the diocese, who the Pope emeritus “was not aware either of the fact that priest X was an abuser, nor that it was included in pastoral activity “. And, also that he did not know of other cases of abuse: “The appraisal does not provide any evidence to the contrary.”

But Ratzinger admits it was a mistake not to report his participation in that meeting. “This error, which unfortunately occurred, was not intentionally intended and I hope it is excusable. I have already arranged for Archbishop Gänswein to communicate this in the press statement of January 24, 2022 ”.

However, he does not hide his regret: «It struck me deeply that the oversight was used to question my veracity, and even to present myself as a liar. I was all the more moved by the various expressions of trust, the cordial testimonies and the moving letters of encouragement that I received from so many people ».

Benedict XVI confesses that “every day” he asks himself “if even today I do not have to speak of very great guilt. And he consolingly tells me that no matter how great my guilt may be today, the Lord forgives me, if I sincerely let myself be scrutinized by him and am really willing to change myself “. And again: “I looked into the eyes the consequences of a very great guilt and I learned to understand that we ourselves are dragged into this great guilt when we neglect it or when we do not face it with the necessary decision and responsibility, as has happened and happens too often ».

Then he addresses the victims: “Every single case of sexual abuse is terrible and irreparable. My deep compassion goes to the victims of sexual abuse and I regret each and every case. More and more I understand the disgust and fear that Christ experienced on the Mount of Olives when he saw all the terrible things he had to overcome within. That at that moment the disciples were asleep unfortunately represents the situation that is happening again today and for which I too feel called upon. And so I can only pray to the Lord and beg all the angels and saints and you, dear sisters and brothers, to pray for me to the Lord our God ”.

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