Pope Francis Urges Prayers For Predecessor, Benedict Over Depleting Health

Head of Catholic Church, Pope Francis has urged the global community to offer prayers on behalf of his predecessor, ex-pope Benedict XVI, saying he is “very sick”.

Benedict, 95, had rendered his resignation from his position in 2013 on reasons bordering on advancing age. He was the first pope in about 600 years to do so. He has been living in the Vatican since then.

“I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the church,” Francis appealed on Wednesday at the end of his general audience in Italian but did not give details.

“Let us remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the church, until the end,” he added.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis went to visit his predecessor.

“Regarding the health conditions of the emeritus pope, for whom Pope Francis asked for prayers at the end of his general audience this morning, I can confirm that in the last hours, a worsening due to advanced age has happened,” Bruni said in a written statement.

“The situation at the moment remains under control, constantly monitored by doctors,” according to the statement.

Those who had in recent times come in contact with Benedict said his body was very frail but his mind was still sharp.

One of the latest known photographs of Benedict was taken on December 1, when he met the winners of a prize for theologians named after him. He was seated and looked exceptionally weak.

Since his resignation Benedict has been living in a former convent inside the Vatican gardens, with his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, and a few other aides and medical staff.

Benedict announced his intention to resign on February 11, 2013, shocking a meeting of cardinals. He said he no longer had the physical and mental strength to run the church.

He formally stepped down on February 28 that year, moving temporarily to the papal summer residence south of Rome while cardinals from around the world came to Rome to choose his successor.