Pope Benedict XVI

Benedict is the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign as head of the Catholic Church. Read more at straitstimes.com.

“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. Biographer Peter Seewald told AFP in June 2020 that Benedict is a “down-to-earth person... But he failed to stamp his authority on the Curia, the Church’s governing body, and appeared to have lost control of his household. His resignation created an unprecedented situation in which two “men in white” – Benedict and Pope Francis – have co-existed within the walls of the tiny city state. “The Pope Emeritus was able to rest well last night, he is absolutely lucid and alert and today, although his condition remains serious, the situation at the moment is stable,” the Vatican press office said on Thursday. VATICAN CITY - Former pope Benedict XVI is “lucid and alert” and his condition remains serious but stable, the Vatican said on Thursday, the day after

"Pope Francis renews the invitation to pray for him and accompany him in these difficult hours," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

"We hadn't heard the news," said Liam Marchesano, a 22-year-old economics student from Mantova who was waiting to see the basilica with his girlfriend. In the square, the line of tourists waiting to get into St. John Lateran, Benedict's former basilica in his capacity as the bishop of Rome. Few had expected his retirement — now in its 10th year — to last longer than his eight-year reign as pope. Benedict in 2013 became the first pope in 600 years to retire, and he chose to live out his retirement in seclusion in a converted monastery in the Vatican Gardens. On Wednesday Francis revealed that Benedict was "very ill" and went to see Benedict at his home in the Vatican Gardens where he has lived since retiring in 2013, sparking fears that he was near death.

A statement released by the Director of the Holy See Press Office says the Pope Emeritus is in a stable condition.

On Wednesday the Director of the Press Officer said that after the General Audience Francis had visited the Pope Emeritus at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery inside the Vatican where he has lived after announcing his resignation in February 2013. Bruni also said Pope Francis "renews his invitation to pray for him [Benedict XVI] and to accompany him in these difficult hours." Concern for Benedict XVI‘s health was raised on Wednesday when Pope Francis concluded the General Audience with an invitation to the faithful to pray for his 95-year-old predecessor who, he said, is very ill.

Join us for all the latest news on the condition of Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who served as the head of the Catholic Church for eight years.

As you have likely heard, the former pope Benedict XVI's health condition appears to be deteriorating rapidly and, unfortunately, the latest news coming out of the Vatican is not positive. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end," Francis said, speaking in Italian. "I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the Church. Francis made the surprise appeal at the end of his general audience, giving no further details at the time. But later on Thursday more information was to emerge. Just 24 hours ago, it was revealed that the 95-year-old's health had deteriorated quickly and Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis asked for continued prayers "to accompany him in these difficult hours." A Latin term, emeritus usually refers to male retirees who have retained the respective title of their last held role. [here](https://en.as.com/latest_news/what-did-pope-benedict-xvi-do-in-his-last-years-what-is-the-job-of-a-pope-emeritus-n/) [“The Two Popes’', the film that about Benedict XVI and Pope Francis: where to watch it](https://en.as.com/latest_news/the-two-popes-the-film-that-about-benedict-xvi-and-pope-francis-where-to-watch-it-n/) Pope Francis asked for prayers for former pope Benedict on Wednesday, as he reported to the world that he was "very sick". Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope in over six centuries to resign from his position, after a number of issues and investigations forced his hand. Since Benedict XVI retired, he became Pope Emeritus, a title that acknowledges his existence and tenure as a living and former head of the Church. On Wednesday Francis revealed that Benedict was "very ill" and went to see the retired pope at his home in the Vatican Gardens where he has lived since

The Vatican said on Friday that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had rested well and that his condition was “stationary.”

At the end of his general audience on Dec. 30, the Holy See Press Office said: “Last night the Pope Emeritus was able to rest well. At present his condition is stationary.”

Former Pope Benedict XVI is "stable" and was able to "rest well" last night, the Vatican has said.

A Vatican spokesperson said: "Last night the Pope Emeritus was able to rest well. The former head of the Catholic Church, who became the first to retire in 600 years, was able to participate in Mass in his room, the Vatican says. Former Pope Benedict XVI is "stable" and was able to "rest well" last night, the Vatican has said.

In related news, at 5:30 pm Rome time on today, Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, remembering in prayer Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI ...

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, will preside over the celebration. In a response to questions from journalists, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, on Friday confirmed that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's health condition remains stable at this time. In related news, at 5:30 pm Rome time on today, Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St.