Entitled “The family (pontifical and otherwise),” this chapter includes a portrait of Gänswein as a youth: “a bit of a transgressive, with long, curly hair and a nonconformist air.” The sports-mad fan of Pink Floyd and Cat Stevens dreams of becoming a stockbroker, but opts for the priesthood.
‘Nothing but the Truth’: A reader’s guide to Archbishop Gänswein’s memoir
Archbishop Georg Gänswein’s memoir “Nothing but the Truth” is the most talked-about Catholic book in years.
Released on Jan. 12, it recounts the archbishop’s experiences as Benedict XVI’s personal secretary and concludes with the pope emeritus’ death and funeral.
The book, published in Italian by Edizioni Piemme, runs to more than 300 pages and is co-written with the journalist Saverio Gaeta.
It has stirred controversy because of its candid description of the relationship between Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and its citation of previously confidential documents.
Here is The Pillar’s guide to the book’s characters and contents.
Characters
Archbishop Georg Gänswein: The book’s narrator is Archbishop Gänswein, a 66-year-old German living in Vatican City. Dubbed “Gorgeous George” by the media on account of his chiseled features, he holds two demanding roles for much of the book: he is personal secretary to Benedict …pillarcatholic.com