Benedict XVI removes name from controversial new book
On January 14, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI asked not to be mentioned as coauthor of a book scheduled for release in February, according to a close aide. Excerpts from the book appeared to place the ex-pope at odds with Pope Francis on rules over priestly celibacy.
The book in question, From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church, was publicized as being coauthored by Benedict with Cardinal Robert Sarah, who heads the Vatican office for liturgy.
The book’s publishing house in the United States, Ignatius Press, released a statement saying it had received the text from the French publisher Fayard, which stated that Benedict XVI wrote the introduction, conclusion, and an entire chapter on celibacy.
