The retired Pope probably does not want to go to a hospital.
After the news of Benedict XVI’s poor health. is prayed for the Pope Emeritus in many churches and dioceses worldwide. The incumbent Pope Francis called on the faithful in a short speech at the general audience on Wednesday because the 95-year-old Benedict was “very ill”. After the audience, Pope Francis visited his predecessor.
The call to prayer was followed by high clergy and parishes on several continents. The US Bishops’ Conference, for example, published a prayer for Benedict on Instagram; the chairman of the French bishops’ conference also commented on social media.
In Germany, Cologne’s Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki – whom Benedict made cardinal in 2012 – joined the call to prayer, as did other clergy. Among them were Georg Bätzing, the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Limburg, the Archbishop of Munich and Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer from Regensburg.
Apparently Benedict doesn’t want to go to the hospital
The Italian news agency Ansa reported that the 95-year-old had had breathing problems for a few days. According to the Vatican, Benedict’s health is deteriorating. The vital bodily functions decreased, “including the heart,” it said from circles in the Holy See.
At the same time, however, a Vatican spokesman said yesterday that the situation was “under control” and that Benedict was being constantly monitored by doctors. According to reports, he does not want to be taken to a hospital. His residence in the former Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens has the necessary medical equipment.
Surprising retirement in 2013
Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger. headed the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013 as the first German pope in 482 years. He resigned from his post for health reasons. Francis was elected his successor.
Born in Marktl am Inn in Bavaria in 1927, Ratzinger was Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977. In 1982 he became head of the Vatican’s faith authority and finally pope in 2005. Since surprisingly resigning from office in February 2013, he has lived in a former convent in the Vatican Gardens.
Recently it has been said for months that Benedict is physically weak and can hardly speak. Mentally, however, he is fit according to the circumstances. At irregular intervals, Benedikt, who is cared for by his long-time companion Georg Gänswein and nuns, also received visitors.
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