National Catholic Register: “The book, which offers insights into Pope Benedict XVI through the eyes of a direct witness, should be understood as a memorial, not an indictment.

…of course, there is Archbishop Gänswein’s open anger and surprise at being abruptly relieved of his post as prefect of the Papal Household by Pope Francis, without any explanation.

Other previews spoke of Benedict XVI’s bitterness in learning about Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’ apostolic letter with which he overturned this predecessor’s decisions to expand the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass…

Without diplomatic filters, using the straightforward language that those who know him are used to hearing, Archbishop Gänswein outlines various interesting and partially unpublished situations. These include:

the case of the book by Cardinal Robert Sarah, which named Benedict XVI as co-author; contacts with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio before and after he became pope; the long letter that Benedict XVI wrote to Pope Francis to comment on his first interview granted to La Civiltà Cattolica in 2013; and new details about how Benedict’s decision to renounce the pontificate came about.

The book offers insights to these stories and others through the eyes of a direct witness. It should be understood as a memorial, not an indictment. It provides a faithful account of situations and stories as Archbishop Gänswein experienced them. 

The Resignation

In some cases, new facts are given and previously known accounts are presented in a different light….More

— Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the former personal secretary of the Pope Emeritus, must leave the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where he resided with Benedict XVI…

… [previously] he recalls that, when he told Ratzinger [initially upon receiving his new assignment to stay with the pope emeritus], the latter said to him, in an ironic tone: “It seems that Pope Francis no longer trusts me and wants you to be my guardian”… Read the report

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Top photo credit: Georg Gänswein besa el ataud de Benedicto XVI – Michael Kappeler/dpa

— Pope Francis: Partisans have used Benedict XVI’s death ‘to serve their own interests’