![Retired Pope Benedict XVI is publicly defending the Catholic Church's traditional rule of priestly celibacy, the former pontiff's most explicit effort so far to influence a decision by his successor Pope Francis, Retired Pope Benedict XVI is publicly defending the Catholic Church's traditional rule of priestly celibacy, the former pontiff's most explicit effort so far to influence a decision by his successor Pope Francis,](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2djw4aa/retired-pope-benedict-xvi-is-publicly-defending-the-catholic-churchs-traditional-rule-of-priestly-celibacy-the-former-pontiffs-most-explicit-effort-so-far-to-influence-a-decision-by-his-successor-pope-francis-who-is-considering-a-proposal-to-routinely-ordain-married-men-as-roman-catholic-priests-for-the-first-time-in-almost-a-millennium-at-the-end-of-a-consistory-ceremony-pope-francis-and-a-group-of-cardinals-meet-with-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi-in-a-chapel-at-the-vatican-on-november-19-2016-pope-francis-created-17-new-cardinals-in-st-peters-basilica-during-an-ordinary-public-cons-2djw4aa.jpg)
Retired Pope Benedict XVI is publicly defending the Catholic Church's traditional rule of priestly celibacy, the former pontiff's most explicit effort so far to influence a decision by his successor Pope Francis,
![Everything you probably didn′t know about former Pope Benedict XVI as he turns 90 | All media content | DW | 13.04.2017 Everything you probably didn′t know about former Pope Benedict XVI as he turns 90 | All media content | DW | 13.04.2017](https://static.dw.com/image/38387372_403.jpg)
Everything you probably didn′t know about former Pope Benedict XVI as he turns 90 | All media content | DW | 13.04.2017
![Freising, Germany. 22nd June, 2020. Pope Benedict XVI emeritus waves at Munich Airport. The Pope emeritus travels back to the Vatican after his four-day visit to Regensburg. The former Pope had unexpectedly Freising, Germany. 22nd June, 2020. Pope Benedict XVI emeritus waves at Munich Airport. The Pope emeritus travels back to the Vatican after his four-day visit to Regensburg. The former Pope had unexpectedly](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2C3TK5P/freising-germany-22nd-june-2020-pope-benedict-xvi-emeritus-waves-at-munich-airport-the-pope-emeritus-travels-back-to-the-vatican-after-his-four-day-visit-to-regensburg-the-former-pope-had-unexpectedly-travelled-to-his-old-home-on-18062020-to-visit-his-96-years-old-brother-credit-sven-hoppedpaalamy-live-news-2C3TK5P.jpg)
Freising, Germany. 22nd June, 2020. Pope Benedict XVI emeritus waves at Munich Airport. The Pope emeritus travels back to the Vatican after his four-day visit to Regensburg. The former Pope had unexpectedly
![Former pope Benedict says 'fanatical' Catholics still won't believe he's not the pope | Pope Benedict XVI | The Guardian Former pope Benedict says 'fanatical' Catholics still won't believe he's not the pope | Pope Benedict XVI | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30526adf921c38fd90f0de33b3f13a7a38e697eb/0_126_2000_1201/master/2000.jpg?width=465&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=80d4a84799c3ed05d75a2a13a2a8ef47)
Former pope Benedict says 'fanatical' Catholics still won't believe he's not the pope | Pope Benedict XVI | The Guardian
![Former pope Benedict XVI failed to act on four cases of sexual abuse, report finds | World News | Sky News Former pope Benedict XVI failed to act on four cases of sexual abuse, report finds | World News | Sky News](https://e3.365dm.com/22/01/2048x1152/skynews-benedict-pope_5647100.jpg)
Former pope Benedict XVI failed to act on four cases of sexual abuse, report finds | World News | Sky News
![Freising, Germany. 22nd June, 2020. The emeritus Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Munich Airport to board his plane. The Pope emeritus travels back to the Vatican after his four-day visit to Regensburg. Freising, Germany. 22nd June, 2020. The emeritus Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Munich Airport to board his plane. The Pope emeritus travels back to the Vatican after his four-day visit to Regensburg.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2C3TMET/freising-germany-22nd-june-2020-the-emeritus-pope-benedict-xvi-arrives-at-munich-airport-to-board-his-plane-the-pope-emeritus-travels-back-to-the-vatican-after-his-four-day-visit-to-regensburg-the-former-pope-had-unexpectedly-travelled-to-his-old-home-on-18062020-to-visit-his-96-years-old-brother-credit-sven-hoppedpaalamy-live-news-2C3TMET.jpg)