Home - The Church - Benedict XVI's secretary clarifies Pope did not campaign for himself in 2005 Conclave personal secretary of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI Nothing But The Truth — My Life Beside Benedict XVI he gives an intimate account of the last years of the Pope emeritus Archbishop Gänswein denies the widespread belief that the Pope emeritus campaigned for himself for the 2005 conclave the Italian Vaticanist Giuseppe De Carli asked Cardinal Ratzinger on a RAI news program if after having participated in two conclaves Archbishop Gänswein says Pope Benedict XVI had planned to announce his resignation on December 21 But the Archbishop suggested choosing another date He told the Pope emeritus that it would be “like a bucket of cold water.” In the end the Pope decided not to announce his resignation until February 11 The book also looks at more serious moments such as the Pope emeritus' reaction when he learned of Pope Francis' motru proprio “Traditionis custodes,” in which he limited the use of the Latin Mass