At the end of the general audience, Pope Francis invited the faithful to pray in particular for the 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whom he described as “very ill”.
Jānis Evertovskis – Vatican
Addressing the Italian-speaking members of the general audience, Francis, turning his back on the written text and looking at those present, said: “A special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who supports the Church in silence. Remember this – he is very ill – asking the Lord to give him his comfort and support him, assuring him of his love for the Church to the end.”
The head of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, also confirmed the seriousness of the situation. His press release reads: “Regarding the health of the Pope Emeritus, for which Pope Francis asked for prayers at the end of this morning’s general audience, I can confirm that in the last few hours, due to his advanced age, [veselības] deterioration. The situation is currently under control, he is under the constant supervision of the doctors”. Mateo Bruni adds that after the general audience Francesco went to Mother of the Church monastery to visit Benedict XVI. “Let us also join him in our prayers for the pope emeritus,” writes Bruni.
