Pope Francis reported that at the 2005 conclave, following the death of John Paul II, Cardinal electors used his name to “block Ratzinger’s election” and then agree on a third different candidate.”

“It so happened that I received forty out of one hundred and fifteen votes in the Sistine Chapel. “There were enough of them to stop the candidacy of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, because if they continued to vote for me, he would not be able to get the two-thirds required to be elected pope.” told in the book “Successor” (Planet). written by Pope Francis in collaboration with a correspondent ABC in the Vatican, Javier Martinez-Brocal, published April 3.

In an excerpt from the book offered ABCwhich collects Europe PressFrancisco assures that the cardinals swear not to disclose what happens at the conclave, but Dads have the right to say this. In that conclave – the fact is known – I was used,” he details.

The pope describes this “maneuver” in detail and makes it clear that in voting for him, “the idea of ​​those behind the vote” was not that then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio would be elected. “It was a complete maneuver. The idea was to block the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. They used me, and behind my back they were already thinking about offering another cardinal. They still couldn’t agree on who it was, but they were on the verge of throwing out the name. “Later they told me they didn’t want a ‘foreign’ Pope.”Add.

Likewise, Francis also reports that at the conclave that began on Monday, April 18, 2005. His candidate was the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

You might be interested > My resignation is a “distant hypothesis”, although some are thinking “about a new conclave”: Pope Francis

“He was the only one who could be a dad at that time. After the revolution, John Paul II, who was a dynamic pontiff, very active, proactive, traveled a lot… there was a need for a pope who would maintain a healthy balance, a transitional pope,” he says of his vote.

“And it’s true. If they chose someone like me, who’s a lot of trouble, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. At that time this would have been impossible. I left happy. Benedict XVI was the man who accompanied the new style,” he explains.

It is also clarified that Benedict XVI He faced “great resistance within the Vatican.”

“What did the Holy Spirit say to the Church under the new pope? With the election of Joseph Ratzinger he said: “I rule here. There’s no wiggle room here.” concludes.

(Europe Press)