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Benedict XVI: "his vital functions are giving up" but the former pope remains "lucid"

2022-12-29T14:45:10.399Z


In the aftermath of Pope Francis' call to pray for his "seriously ill" predecessor, the state of health of former Pope Benedict XVI


Former Pope Benedict XVI is "lucid" and his condition remains "stable", the Vatican announced on Thursday, the day after a call from Pope Francis to pray for his 95-year-old predecessor "seriously ill".

"The pope emeritus managed to rest well last night, is awake and fully lucid and today, although his condition remains serious, the situation at this stage is stable," the director of the service said in a statement. Vatican press, Matteo Bruni.

Pope Francis "renews his invitation to pray for him and to accompany him in these difficult times", he concludes.

François announced on Wednesday that his predecessor was "seriously ill" and that he was praying for the one whose renunciation in 2013 for health reasons took the world by surprise.

“His health deteriorated about three days ago.

It is his vital functions that are failing, including the heart, ”a Vatican source told AFP, adding that no hospitalization was planned, the residence of Benedict XVI having the necessary medical equipment.

He resides at the Mater Ecclesiæ monastery.

Francis himself visited Benedict XVI on Wednesday at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, the residence of the pope emeritus located in the heart of the Vatican gardens.

The former pope has appeared increasingly fragile in recent months, moving around in a wheelchair, but continuing to receive visitors.

The photos of his last visit received, dating from December 1, showed a frail and visibly weakened man.

On the last public video of Benedict XVI, released by the Vatican in August, we also see a thinner man, equipped with a hearing aid, who can no longer speak but whose gaze is still lively.

The president of the French episcopal conference, Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, posted a message of support for Benedict XVI on Twitter: “Lord, the Catholics of France, in communion with Pope Francis and the whole Church, entrust your servant to you. Benedict XVI and those who watch over him”.

Senior church leaders in Italy, Germany, the United States and South America issued similar messages.

Lord, the Catholics of France, in communion with Pope Francis and the whole Church, entrust to you your servant Benedict XVI and those who watch over him.

— Bishop of Moulins-Beaufort (@Mgr_EMB) December 28, 2022

A mass will be celebrated for him on Friday at the Roman basilica of Saint John Lateran, which depends directly on the Vatican.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, real name Joseph Ratzinger, resigned in 2013 due to failing health and retired to the monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

After eight years of pontificate marked by multiple crises, Benedict XVI was caught up in early 2022 by the drama of child crime in the Church.

Questioned by a report in Germany on his management of sexual violence when he was Archbishop of Munich, he broke his silence to ask for “pardon”, but assured that he had never covered up a child criminal.

A waiver for personal decision

His renunciation, announced in Latin on February 11, 2013, was a personal decision linked to his declining strength and not to the pressure of scandals, assured the former pope in a book of confidences published in 2016.

Even if he never achieved the popularity of his charismatic predecessor John Paul II, Benedict XVI is a highly respected personality in the Catholic world, especially for his qualities as a brilliant theologian.

Most Italian dailies carried the Pope's call to pray for him on their front pages on Thursday, with Corriere della Serra illustrating it on the front page with a photo of the ex-pope whispering in Francis' ear.

As head of the Catholic Church, he defended a conservative line, notably on abortion, homosexuality or euthanasia.

His statements have sometimes shocked, such as on Islam, the use of condoms against HIV or the excommunication of four fundamentalist bishops in 2009.

His pontificate was also marked in 2012 by the leak of confidential documents (“Vatileaks”) orchestrated by his butler.

The scandal exposed a Roman Curia (Vatican government) plagued by intrigue and lacking financial rigor.

Source: leparis

All life articles on 2022-12-29

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