VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Pope Francis mentioned Wednesday that former pontiff Benedict XVI, 95, whose well being has steadily been deteriorating, is “very ill” and he’s praying for him.
“I would like to ask all of you to pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict,” Francis mentioned on the finish of his normal viewers.
He known as on individuals to “remember him, because he is very ill, asking the Lord to console and support him.”
Benedict, who in 2013 turned the primary pontiff to resign in six centuries, has virtually completely withdrawn from public view.
The few images which have emerged of him have proven him to be in more and more frail well being.
Back in 2013, he had cited his declining bodily and psychological well being in his choice to develop into the primary pope since 1415 to surrender the job as head of the worldwide Catholic church.
In April, Benedict’s long-time secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, informed Vatican News the ex-pope was “physically relatively weak and fragile,” however “in good spirits.” — Agence France-Presse
