( CNN ) -- Suffice it to say that of all possible storylines to emerge , heading into the election of a new pope , sensational charges of a shadowy `` gay lobby '' ( possibly linked to blackmail ) , whose occult influence may have been behind the resignation of Benedict XVI , would be right at the bottom of the Vatican 's wish list . Proof of the Vatican 's irritation came with a blistering statement Saturday complaining of `` unverified , unverifiable or completely false news stories , '' even suggesting the media is trying to influence the papal election . Two basic questions have to be asked about all this . First , is there really a secret dossier about a network of people inside the Vatican who are linked by their sexual orientation , as Italian newspaper reports have alleged ? Second , is this really why Benedict XVI quit ? The best answers , respectively , are `` maybe '' and `` probably not . '' It 's a matter of record that at the peak of last year 's massive Vatican leaks crisis , Benedict XVI created a commission of three cardinals to investigate the leaks . They submitted an eyes-only report to the pope in mid-December , which has not been made public . It 's impossible to confirm whether that report looked into the possibility that people protecting secrets about their sex lives were involved with the leaks , but frankly , it would be surprising if it did n't . There are certainly compelling reasons to consider the hypothesis . In 2007 , a Vatican official was caught by an Italian TV network on hidden camera arranging a date through a gay-oriented chat room , and then taking the young man back to his Vatican apartment . In 2010 , a papal ceremonial officer was caught on a wiretap arranging liaisons through a Nigerian member of a Vatican choir . Both episodes played out in full public view , and gave the Vatican a black eye . In that context , it would be a little odd if the cardinals did n't at least consider the possibility that insiders leading a double life might be vulnerable to pressure to betray the pope 's confidence . That would apply not just to sex , but also potential conflicts of other sorts too , such as financial interests . Vatican officials have said Benedict may authorize giving the report to the 116 cardinals who will elect his successor , so they can factor it into their deliberations . The most immediate fallout is that the affair is likely to strengthen the conviction among many cardinals that the next pope has to lead a serious house-cleaning inside the Vatican 's bureaucracy . It seems a stretch , however , to suggest this is the real reason Benedict is leaving . For the most part , one should probably take the pope at his word , that old age and fatigue are the motives for his decision . That said , it 's hard not to suspect that the meltdowns and controversies that have dogged Benedict XVI for the last eight years are in the background of why he 's so tired . In 2009 , at the height of another frenzy surrounding the lifting of the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying traditionalist bishop , Benedict dispatched a plaintive letter to the bishops of the world , voicing hurt for the way he 'd been attacked and apologizing for the Vatican 's mishandling of the situation . Even if Benedict did n't resign because of any specific crisis , including this latest one , such anguish must have taken its toll . Benedict is a teaching pope , a man who prefers the life of the mind to the nuts and bolts of government , yet an enormous share of his time and energy has been consumed trying to put out internal fires . It 's hard to know why Benedict XVI is stepping off the stage , but I doubt it is because of a `` gay lobby . '' The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John L. Allen Jr .
Benedict XVI not stepping down under pressure from ' gay lobby , ' he says . Benedict : Benedict is a man who prefers the peace of the mind to the nuts and bolts of government . However , he says , much of the president 's time has been spent putting out fires .