Pope Francis announced on Wednesday (28th) that his predecessor, Benedict 16, aged 95, is “very ill”.
Francis said during the general audience, “I ask all of you to offer a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, because he is so ill, I ask the Lord to comfort and support him.”
In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign in six centuries. Since then he has lived away from the public eye.
Several published photos of the retired pope show that his health has deteriorated in recent years.
In 2013, he rightly cited his physical decline as one of the reasons why he decided to step down as head of the Catholic Church.
In April, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who has been Benedict’s secretary for several years, told the Vatican News that the honorary pope was “relatively weak” but “enjoyable”.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.