A new biography by German journalist Peter Seeward, simply titled Benedict XVI The Biography: Volume One, contains a 2018 interview between the author and the pontiff, in which Benedict vented his concerns about the world’s moral decline, particularly as it relates to issues like abortion, reproductive technology, and (of course) gay marriage:

One hundred years ago, everybody would have considered it to be absurd to speak of a homosexual marriage. Today one is being excommunicated by society if one opposes it… Modern society is in the middle of formulating an anti-Christian creed, and if one opposes it, one is being punished by society with excommunication. The fear of this spiritual power of the Anti-Christ is then only more than natural.

Benedict appears to confuse social excommunication with “people who want nothing to do with you anymore.” Imagine becoming persona non grata for opposing the marriages — in some cases, even the existence of — people you’ve never met.

He apparently sees no contradiction in accusing equal rights proponents of social excommunication on behalf of the Church that literally invented excommunication as a punishment. That word, “excommunication,” would not exist without the Catholic Church.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/05/07/ex-pope-benedict-blames-lgbtq-acceptance-on-spiritual-power-of-the-antichrist/