This last Wednesday during the general audience of the Pope Franciscothe holy Father He drew everyone’s attention at the end of his speech asking us to pray for Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus. The request of the Argentine Supreme Pontiff surprised everyone. Find out below the motivation of such a particular request.
Pope Francis urged all parishioners and Christians in the world to ask for the health of his predecessor, who is going through a difficult health moment.
“I would like to ask everyone for a special prayer, for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who is silently supporting the Church. Remember him – he is very sick – asking the Lord to console him and sustain him in this testimony of love for the Church, until the end.”were the words of Francisco.
Benedict receiving a visit from Francisco, in a file photo (Photo: abaca / picture alliance)
WHAT IS THE STATE OF HEALTH OF POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI?
“Regarding the health conditions of the pope emeritus, for whom Pope Francis requested a prayer at the end of the general audience this morning, I can confirm that in the last few hours there has been a worsening due to advancing age”reported the director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni.
“The situation for the moment remains under control, constantly monitored by the doctors”Bruni added.
In addition, Pope Francis, at the general audience, said that Joseph Ratzinger -first name-, 95 years old, was “very sick” and went to the monastery where the emeritus resides to visit him.
WITH WHOM DOES POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI LIVE?
The last photograph of the emeritus was published on December 1 by the Joseph Ratzinger Foundationwhen he received at his residence the two winners of the prize that bears his name, the French biblical scholar Michel Fédou and the Jewish jurist Joseph Weiler.
Since April 2, 2013, when Ratzinger returned to the Vatican as pope emeritus after his resignation, He lives surrounded by his Vatican “family”, made up of his secretary and four consecrated lay women from the “Memores Domini” institute.which belongs to the Communion and Liberation movement, which divides the housework and takes care of the needs of the pope emeritus.
