Benedict XVI's right-hand man ignites controversy on 'papal diarchy'

The controversy on whether the Roman Catholic Church has two ruling popes is ignited following comments made by the personal secretary and right-hand man of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who referred to an "expanded ministry."

Also the prefect of the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Gänswein made controversial statements during a book presentation at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome on May 20 that either clarified or confused the current state of papacy, as reported by Religion News Service.

Although the Pope Emeritus resigned from the Papal Throne on Feb. 11, 2013, Gänswein claimed that Benedict XVI "has not abandoned this ministry" and that
it was "quite impossible after his irrevocable acceptance of the office in April 2005."

Gänswein described the controversial resignation in 2013 "as if he had taken only one step to the side to make room for his successor and a new stage in the history of the papacy."

He then proceeded to clarify that the Vatican doesn't have two popes "but de facto an expanded ministry," referring to Pope Francis as the active member while pointing to Benedict XVI as the contemplative member.

Using Pope Celestine V as reference, the first pope to retire from the papacy, Gänswein explained why Benedict XVI has not reverted back to his baptismal name nor stopped wearing the white papal cassock even after resignation. Gänswein also added that Benedict XVI continues to stay in the Vatican.

Gänswein described the papal ministry as "a foundation that Benedict XVI has profoundly and lastingly transformed during his exceptional pontificate" while declaring it as "not the same as before."

Benedict XVI's long-time personal aide called him "so bold as to open the door to a new phase, for that historic turning point that five years ago no one could have imagined."

A blogger by the name of Augustinus caught on Gänswein's statements and recalled the writings of Antonio Socci and Vittorio Messori published in early 2014 discussing a theory of diarchy in the papacy.