Pope Francis Orders: “Remove All of Benedict’s Coats of Arms” – The Damnatio Memoriae of Ratzinger Continues

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Vatican City - The immense sorrows endured by the late Pontiff during the ten years of cohabitation were not enough. Nor were the funeral rites, marked by an evident incapacity to bear the legacy of a true Father of the Church. Now, one year after the death of Benedict XVI, the order has come from Santa Marta: “Remove Benedict XVI’s coat of arms from the chasubles!”

This is what the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations and the staff of the Papal Sacristy were told. Consequently, the chasubles (in all four liturgical colours) were sent to the tailor to replace the coat of arms of the deceased Pope with the tiara and crossed keys. This is a decision that defies any reasonable justification, especially as it comes ten years after the end of his pontificate, and only in the wake of his death. From a historical perspective, it amounts to the erasure of the memory embedded in vestments commissioned by Benedict XVI, which stood as a visible reminder of his pontificate. They also serve as a chronological marker: these vestments were created and worn during his time. Moreover, vestments bearing the coats of arms of Saint Paul VI, Saint John XXIII, and Saint John Paul II are all still preserved in the Papal Sacristy—none have ever been tampered with.

From an economic standpoint—so dear to Pope Francis—this is an absurd expense. It would have been far more cost-effective to purchase new chasubles, either plain or bearing the coat of arms of the reigning Pope. Why then, persist with this damnatio memoriae of Joseph Ratzinger’s pontificate?

In the days following his death, Francis made no effort to conceal his discomfort with Joseph Ratzinger’s entire legacy. No one will ever forget the images of Benedict XVI being loaded onto a minibus at dawn, while it was still dark, and taken into St Peter’s Basilica through a side entrance. Not even the excommunicated have ever been subjected to such treatment. One year on from his death, this morning, His Excellency Archbishop Georg Gänswein celebrated a Holy Mass for the repose of the soul of Benedict XVI. The demand to attend was so high that it could not be held in the Vatican Grottoes; the celebration had to be moved to the Altar of the Chair to allow all the faithful to participate.

d.S.E.
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