After Benedict became the first pope in six centuries to step down, Pope Francis described his predecessor as a “wise grandfather” whose presence and advice were a blessing. Benedict, now 95, treated Francis, 85, with respect, insisting that there was only one pope and that he would help him by becoming invisible and silent. The slow deterioration of this relationship and its consequences for the church is the subject of a new book by Massimo Franco, Corriere della Sera newspaper.
