From Rome we receive the keys to the unusual time that the Catholic Church lived through the confluence of two living popes. In The Successor, Javier Martínez Brocal, laSexta’s correspondent in Italy, reveals papal confessions and debunks some lies, such as that Benedict XVI and Francis got along badly. The Pope himself has confessed this to the journalist, who has reflected it in his book. “They had a very cordial relationship, they saw each other often and Benedict XVI never tried to oppose to Pope Francis“, he assures.

That cold, calculating image was not true either. and Machiavellian nature that the late Ratzinger was, although his ways had nothing to do with those of the Argentine. “Pope Francis is creating freedom for himself and for his successor,” maintains the correspondent, who defends that “Pope Benedict XVI was overprotected and could not do what he wanted.”

In El Sucesor, Francisco also talks about the relationship that united them: how he did not want it to be hidden behind his resignation and why he stepped aside. “Benedict resigned for honesty“He was the person least attached to power that existed and he saw that he had the strength to govern the church,” says Javier Martínez Brocal.

But, in addition, Bergoglio reveals in The Successor some secrets that were unknown until now, such as that he wants to simplify papal funerals and that he will rest in his favorite church in Rome, that of Santa Maria Maggiore.