The danger for the Vatican is that the furor risks overshadowing what others see as Benedict's real legacy to the church: his teaching and writings, including three papal encyclicals.
At his best in his communication of the written word, for years to come Catholics and other believers will be able to read his three encyclicals on faith, hope and love.
But there is one poignant irony: having penned encyclicals on the Christian virtues of hope and charity, his papacy did not last long enough to complete a planned one on the subject of faith itself which is so dear to his heart.