Pope Francis requested this December 28 a prayer for his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
He did so in the traditional audience on Wednesdays, arousing the interest of the parishioners and turning on alerts regarding the health situation of the former pope.
“I want to ask everyone a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who is silently supporting the Church: he is very sick, we ask the Lord to give him comfort and to be able to support him,” Francis said.
Joseph Ratzinger, 95, of Germany, left the papacy in 2013 and lives in the Mater Ecclesiae convent in Vatican City.
Benedict XVI’s health has remained stable, but his fragility and advanced age allow us to conjecture that the Argentine’s statements are based on the worsening of his situation, he says The country.
The last time Ratzinger appeared in public was at the end of August, when Francis visited him to introduce him to new cardinals.
The step aside of Benedict XVI was a historical situation in the Church that was not in the protocols or laws.
However, contrary to what could be expected, the coexistence between the two popes has been positive, say those closest to the reality of the Vatican.
The Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation regularly publishes photographs of some of the emeritus pontiff’s meetings.
In November, for example, he received the Russian artist Natalia Tsarkova, who presented him with a painting in which he portrayed them together with his brother, Georg, now deceased, and the people from the Vatican who attend him these days.
An interesting fact is that his longevity as emeritus pontiff, almost 10 years, has already exceeded what his papacy lasted.
Pope Francis mentions the health of Benedict XVI in the Vatican
The emeritus pontiff of the Catholic Church is one of the most controversial figures in this organization due to the influence he has had on Vatican politics. It is, without a doubt, a personal brand with great impact, which is why news related to it generates high attention.
In July 2022, Benedict XVI was a trend when Felipe Calderón gave him up for dead following false news that claimed it.
“I regret having followed the news (now I know that it is not confirmed) of the death of Benedict XVI. I reiterate the virtues of deep thought, humility and wisdom that I said about him and my gratitude for his visit to Mexico when I had the honor of being President. I pray for his health, ”the former president of Mexico said at the time.
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