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Vatican“Very sick” – Pope Francis prays for his predecessor Benedict
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. According to his successor Francis, he is “very ill”. The current pontiff reported this on Wednesday at the end of the general audience in the Vatican.
The current pontiff asked the faithful on Wednesday at the end of the general audience in the Vatican for a “special prayer” for the 95-year-old Benedict.
IMAGO/Independent Photo Agency Int.
Born in Bavaria, whose name was Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected Pope, he has lived relatively isolated in a monastery in the Vatican since his resignation in 2013.
imago images/UPI Photo
That’s what it’s regarding
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Several years ago, the retired Pope Benedict XVI. back from public view.
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His successor now reports that Benedict is “very ill” and calls for prayer.
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According to the Vatican, his health has continued to deteriorate in recent hours due to his age.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. According to his successor Francis, he is “very ill”. The current pontiff asked the faithful on Wednesday at the end of the general audience in the Vatican for a “special prayer” for the 95-year-old Benedict. ‘Think of him, he is very ill. And ask the Lord to console and support him in this testimony of love for the Church to the end,” said Francis. Francis and the Holy See did not initially give any further details.
Born in Bavaria, whose name was Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected Pope, he has lived relatively isolated in a monastery in the Vatican since his resignation in 2013. Recently it has been said for months that Benedict is physically weak and can hardly speak. Mentally, however, he is fit according to the circumstances. At irregular intervals, Benedikt, who is cared for by his long-time companion Georg Gänswein and nuns, also received visitors.
The condition of the Pope Emeritus has deteriorated
The state of health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. has deteriorated in the past few hours because of his age, according to the Vatican. Doctors are constantly monitoring the 95-year-old’s condition, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Wednesday. “The situation is under control at the moment,” he added. Pope Francis went to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery to visit his predecessor. “Let’s all join him in prayer for the Pope Emeritus,” Bruni said.
Francis had previously called on the faithful to pray for his predecessor, who was “very ill”. “I would like to ask you all to say a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who sustains the Church in silence,” Francis said in his audience
Benedikt withdrew from the public a long time ago
Benedict resigned almost ten years ago, in February 2013. It was the first voluntary resignation by a pope in over 700 years. Born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria, Benedict lives a secluded life in the Vatican and has recently appeared increasingly frail. His longtime secretary Georg Gänswein said in April that the former pope was physically weak and frail, but mentally still clear and in good spirits.
While Benedict appeared in public more often in the first years of his retirement and took part in the appointment of cardinals, he refrained from doing so in recent years – his strength was no longer sufficient for long church services.
(dpa/fos)
