On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’s election, Benedict XVI dismissed those who contrast his pontificate with Pope Francis. Benedict said that he is not a mere theologian, nor is Francis only a pastor. In a letter sent to Mgr Dario Viganò, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication, Benedict applauded the publication of a new book series entitled, The Theology of Pope Francis. “It contradicts the foolish prejudice of those who see Pope Francis as someone who lacks a particular theological and philosophical formation, while I would have been considered solely a theorist of theology with little understanding of the concrete lives of today’s Christian,” the retired pope wrote. Mgr Viganò read the letter during a presentation of the 11-volume series on Monday. Before reading the letter, Mgr Viganò said he sent a message to Pope Francis and Benedict XVI regarding the publication of the book series. He asked if Benedict would be “willing to write a page or a page and a half of dense theology in his clear and punctual style that [I] would have liked to read this evening”. Instead, the retired pontiff “wrote a beautiful, personal letter that I will read to you”, Mgr Viganò said. Benedict wrote: “These small volumes reasonably demonstrate that Pope Francis is a man with profound philosophical and theological formation and are helpful to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, even with all the differences in style and temperament.” Benedict XVI has praised Pope Francis previously. During a Vatican celebration for the 65th anniversary of his priestly ordination, he said: “More than the beauty found in the Vatican Gardens, your goodness is the place where I live; I feel protected.”