New Book Interview With Benedict XVI Due Out in September

'Corriere della Sera' reports it will be an autobiographical interview written by German author Peter Seewald.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is to discuss the most important parts of his life in a new book interview with German author Peter Seewald, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera has reported.

The book, the first of its kind in history and due out in September, will be an autobiographical interview that will cover Joseph Ratzinger's childhood in Nazi Germany, the discovery of his vocation, and his service at the Vatican.

The Pope Emeritus will also touch upon the anxiety he suffered during his first days as Successor of Peter, and his “painful” decision to resign.  

He will discuss “his faith, his weaknesses, his private life”, Corriere della Sera says, as well as the highs and lows of the papacy, and explain why he chose to resign — a decision initially only communicated to a few trusted people to avoid leaks. According to the article, his account should put to bed talk that his resignation had been due to “alleged blackmail.”

In the book, Benedict also looks at his successor, Pope Francis: "Two different figures, two different ways of understanding the Papacy: the Pope emeritus outlines the differences and his own peculiarities and those of Bergoglio," the article says.

Peter Seewald is well known for writing book interviews with Joseph Ratzinger, first when he was a cardinal (Salt of the Earth), and then as Pope (Light of the World).

The book’s Italian edition is expected to be published Sept. 9 and run to 240 pages. 

PhotoPope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as they celebrate the 65th Priestly Ordination of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Clementine Hall in Vatican City on June 28, 2016. © L’Osservatore Romano

H/T EWTN News Nightly's Mary Shovlain