“He is very ill”: Pope Francis asks his predecessor Benedict XVI to pray in the face of his deteriorating health

“I can confirm in the last few hours the health of the pontiff emeritus whom Pope Francis asked to pray at the end of this morning’s general audience. Aggravation has occurred due to aging“, said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.

“The situation is currently under control and is being monitored by doctors,” he added.

At the end of this Wednesday’s public audience, Pope Francis went to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where the Pope Emeritus lives, to communicate with him.

Earlier this month, Francis revealed that he often visited his predecessor.

He spoke of Benedict as a “saint” and had a great spiritual life, commenting that the Pope Emeritus was articulate and had a good sense of humor.

“Speak in a low voice, but continue your conversation,” he told Spanish newspaper ABCç.

Benedict XVI has had speech problems in recent years.

The pope emeritus was 85 when he shocked Catholics around the world in February 2013 by deciding to step down less than eight years after being elected.

Since Gregory XII resigned in 1415, there was no pope I had done it.

Known for his conservative and traditional views as opposed to the social activism of liberation theology, Benedict XVI is the eighth German to become Pope.

Earlier this year he made a public statement about how he managed some Cases of Priests Accused of Child Abuse When he was Archbishop of Munich between 1977 and 1982.

A German inquiry commissioned by the Catholic Church found failure to act in four cases. Benedict denied wrongdoing but apologized for any “serious misconduct”.

Remember that You can get notifications from the BBC news the world Download the latest version of our apps and activate them so you never miss our best content.