Pope: Pray for Benedict XVI, he is very ill and supports the Church with his prayers

Charlotta Smedes – Vatican City

Amid greetings to the Italian faithful at the end of the general audience, Pope Francis, speaking to those present in the Paul VI Hall, entrusted a special intention to pray: “I ask a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who silently supports the Church.” Remember him – said the Pope – he is very ill and ask the Lord to comfort him and support him in this testimony of love for the Church to the end.

Pope Francis’ few words indicate a critical state of health for Benedict XVI. He turned 95 on April 16th. This is confirmed by the Vatican press spokesman Matteo Bruni, who wrote: “Concerning the health condition of the Pope Emeritus, for whom Pope Francis asked us to pray at the end of this general morning, I can confirm that in the last hours there has been a deterioration of the situation due to advanced age, and the situation under Currently controlling, doctors are constantly accompanying him. Bruni added at the end of the public meeting: “Pope Francis went to the monastery of the Church Mother to visit Benedict XVI, so we join him and pray for the Pope Emeritus.”

in the mother church

Joseph Ratzinger, who, a few months after his resignation in February 2013, still lives in the convent inside the Vatican Garden. He is assisted by Memores Domini, the consecrated laity of the Comunione e Liberazione, and a personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Gänswein, who over the years tells of a life spent in prayer, music, study and reading and reports on Benedict’s health.

Relations between Francis and Benedict

On several occasions, Pope Francis himself has spoken of the bond with his predecessor, as he did at the Angel on June 29, 2021, the 70th anniversary of Ratzinger’s ordination. Then he was called his “father” and “brother”. From the beginning of his pontificate, Jorge Mario Bergoglio began the “tradition” of meeting the Pope Emeritus, starting with the historic first visit of the newly elected pope who arrived by helicopter at the residence of Castel Gandolfo, where Benedict had stayed a few weeks before his move. to the Vatican.

In terms of Christmas, Easter or Church celebrations, Pope Francis, with the new Cardinals, never wanted to miss a courtesy visit to show his closeness to the old Pope. He did the same with the new cardinals who were created in the church on August 27.

Benedict XVI – who has always continued to receive visitors during these nearly ten years – met on December 1 of last year the winners of the Ratzinger Prize, the French biblical scholar Father Michel Fido and the Jewish jurist Joseph Halevy Horowitz Wheeler, accompanied by the President of the Republic. Joseph Ratzinger Foundation – Benedict XVI, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi.