Vatican Sources: Power Struggle Continues, Cardinals Intent on “Governing Reformer” as Pope
February 28, 2013
The heated power struggle
that marked the period leading up to Pope Benedict XVI's
announcement that he would resign continues in full
fury. Cardinals will soon meet in conclave (possibly
next week) to choose his successor and decide on a clear
path forward for the Church.
LIGNET first reported on this
power struggle as key to understanding the full context
of Benedict's resignation, noting the scandals at the
Vatican Bank and allegations of sexual misconduct at the
highest levels of the Church hierarchy played a role in
the Pope's decision to have a younger successor deal
with these weighty problems.
Since LIGNET's intelligence
briefing of February 20 on these matters, the Italian
and international press have reported numerous new
allegations. Vatican sources tell LIGNET that some of
these are true and some are false, but what is
indisputable is that many of the press stories have been
generated from within the Vatican itself. The Holy See
is filled with internal strife and the press, eager to
publish lurid stories of intrigue and conflict, has been
used as a tool by competing sides to influence the
selection of the next Pope.
The stage has been set for a
truly momentous gathering to choose the next Pope.
Vatican sources tell LIGNET
the Cardinals are intent in using this papal selection
to stop the Church's public relations hemorrhaging. The
latest intrigue involving the selection of the next Pope
and the four leading contenders are detailed in this
report.