Pope Slander

Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, as two living popes during an unprecedented period in Catholic history (2013–2022), have often been pitted against each other in narratives of church division, reform, and crisis. One notable incident that fueled such tension was a statement attributed to Benedict suggesting the Church was in peril, likened to a boat on the verge of capsizing. This comment, and its interpretation as a critique of Francis’s leadership, has been labeled by some as slanderous against the reigning pope. Here’s an exploration of this moment, its context, and why it might be seen as unfair or exaggerated criticism.

In July 2017, Benedict’s private secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, read a letter from the retired pope at the funeral of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, a conservative figure and one of Benedict’s closest allies. The letter included a striking line: Benedict expressed Meisner’s conviction that “the Lord does not abandon His Church, even if the boat has taken on so much water as to be on the verge of capsizing.” This metaphor of the “boat of the Church”—a traditional image for the Catholic institution navigating the storms of history—immediately sparked debate. Given the timing, five years into Francis’s papacy, some conservative critics of Francis interpreted it as a veiled jab at his leadership, suggesting that his progressive reforms were destabilizing the Church. The image of a capsizing vessel implied a crisis, and in the polarized climate of the Church, it was easy to cast Francis as the captain steering it toward ruin.

However, viewing this as slander against Francis requires closer scrutiny. Slander, by definition, involves a false statement intended to harm someone’s reputation. Benedict’s words, as conveyed through Gänswein, did not explicitly name Francis or his policies. The letter was a eulogy for Meisner, reflecting the late cardinal’s concerns about the Church’s state, not a direct papal critique. Benedict, known for his theological precision and reserved demeanor, had consistently avoided public interference in Francis’s pontificate after his 2013 resignation. In his own writings and rare statements as pope emeritus, he emphasized continuity with Francis, even praising his successor’s pastoral approach. For instance, in a 2016 interview, Benedict said, “I am grateful to be able to be connected to Pope Francis in a deep inner unity,” dispelling notions of rivalry.

Francis himself has dismissed the idea of tension between them as “nonsense.” In his 2024 book-length interview, The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI, he recounted their warm interactions and mutual respect, noting that Benedict “always defended me.” He addressed the broader narrative of division by suggesting that some exploit Benedict’s legacy to attack him, saying, “They use Benedict when they don’t have real arguments against me, and attribute things to him that are not true.” This aligns with Francis’s view of slander as a “diabolical cancer,” a phrase he used in a 2019 audience to describe how false narratives harm the Church’s unity. To Francis, the capsizing comment’s weaponization against him exemplifies this destructive tendency.

Contextually, the “capsizing” metaphor must be weighed against Benedict’s lifelong perspective. As early as 1956, Joseph Ratzinger (later Benedict XVI) wrote that the Church harbors both Christ and the Antichrist until the Last Judgment—a view suggesting inherent struggles, not a specific indictment of any pope. His papacy (2005–2013) was itself rocked by scandals like Vatileaks and clerical abuse, which he addressed with measures like the “large white box” of documents he handed to Francis in 2013, signaling unresolved challenges. If the Church was “taking on water” in 2017, it could reflect these persistent issues rather than Francis’s tenure alone. Meisner’s own conservatism, mirrored in Benedict’s letter, likely colored the sentiment, but pinning it solely on Francis’s reforms—like his synods on family and the Amazon—stretches the text beyond its intent.

Critics who frame the comment as slander often overlook this nuance. Conservative factions, wary of Francis’s openness to dialogue on celibacy, women’s roles, and interfaith engagement, amplified the capsizing imagery to suggest a sinking ship under a liberal captain. Yet, Benedict’s silence on specific policies and his loyalty to Francis undermine this narrative. Francis, in turn, has never publicly rebuked Benedict for the remark, instead focusing on their shared mission. The real slander, then, may lie not in Benedict’s words but in their misappropriation by those seeking to deepen Church divisions—a tactic Francis has consistently decried.

In conclusion, the “church capsizing” comment, while evocative, lacks the directness to constitute slander against Francis from Benedict. It reflects broader anxieties about the Church’s direction, voiced through Meisner’s lens and Benedict’s pen, but not a personal attack. The true harm emerges when such statements are twisted to fuel a false rivalry, a practice both popes have resisted. As of March 9, 2025, with Francis still leading amid ongoing challenges, the boat remains afloat—perhaps battered, but not capsized—suggesting resilience over ruin.

 

Source: Before Dismissal of Cardinal Müller, Pope Asked Five Pointed Questions - OnePeterFive https://t.co/YUKqWRSX0J via @onepeterfive pic.twitter.com/yVbA2NAWJG

— OnePeterFive (@OnePeterFive) July 11, 2017

Publishing such a report based on "anonymous sources" ?

— John Zwicker (@JohnZwicker1) July 11, 2017

Irresponsible journalism.

— Always in awe (@miggy_joseph) July 11, 2017

Fake news. https://t.co/nTYheFZaL0

— Sacerdotus (@Sacerdotus) July 11, 2017

Fake news. Sinful calumny. https://t.co/EW8ZTNI4K7

— Sacerdotus (@Sacerdotus) July 11, 2017

It is just as Pope Benedict XV explained in his encyclical Ad beatissimi apostolorum of November 1st, 1914: pic.twitter.com/3UGNAVunaj

— Servus Immaculatae (@servusimaculata) July 20, 2017

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/former-vatican-doctrine-chief-denounces-pope-over-his-dismissal

http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/11/world/muller-pope-strikes-back/index.html

http://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/07/20/former-telegraph-editor-pope-franciss-papacy-has-an-intellectual-deficiency/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDHWIeb2qEg

http://www.sltrib.com/home/5554386-155/commentary-is-the-catholic-church-a

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-benedict-church-is-on-the-verge-of-capsizing

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/07/16/emeritus-pope-benedict-xvi-church-is-on-the-verge-of-capsizing/

http://www.trunews.com/article/emeritus-pope-benedict-xvi-church-on-verge-of-capsizing

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/07/19/benedict-aide-fantasy-stupid-use-francis/

https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/pope-emeritus-benedicts-message-a-capsizing-church-needs-courageous-bishops