The Vatican's announcement that Benedict's health had worsened put the church on alert, and Catholics are bracing for the first papal death since 2005.
When a Vatican official relayed the news of John Paul II’s death to pilgrims, there were 60,000 people in the Vatican square. The last time a pope neared death, the emotions — and consequences — were more momentous, and brought the Catholic world to a standstill. There is at least one commonality between this period and the days leading up to John Paul II’s death: A special evening Mass at St. “It was great to have a German pope,” said Ulrike Maiweg, a German and a Lutheran who was visiting St. The church maintains elaborate rituals for handling a pope after death, though it remains to be seen how many of those traditions will be applied to Benedict, an ex-pope. Even in Francis’s tenure, the problems have not been solved; the pope drew up new rules for handling claims and holding bishops to account, but they have been applied unevenly and with little transparency. As the Vatican over days in 2005 issued increasingly ominous warnings about John Paul II — saying that he was being fed through a nasal tube, that his kidneys and circulation was failing — Catholic faithful flooded into St. “The Pope emeritus managed to rest well last night, and he is absolutely lucid and alert,” the Vatican said. More recently, a church-commissioned report in Germany said Benedict had [mishandled](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/20/germany-church-abuse-benedict/?itid=lk_inline_manual_27) several cases during his time as archbishop of Munich, from 1977 until 1982. Heying, an accountant, said he identifies as a traditionalist Catholic and appreciated how Benedict held the line on church teaching. Even in his home country of Germany, he wasn’t beloved; when he addressed the German parliament in 2011, dozens of lawmakers boycotted the event, and thousands protested outside. But it has become a moment for Catholics to reflect on a figure who has had a singularly enduring tenure, shaping numerous eras.
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. Benedict of Norcia. I mentioned earlier the fact that a movie had been made about the two popes.
People around the globe are praying for Benedict XVI at the invitation of Pope Francis, as the Pope Emeritus' health remains stable but under ...
Major Archbishop Shevchuk met recently with Benedict at his residence in the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on 10 November. He later recounted that the Pope Emeritus was “incredibly lucid, informed and solicitous about the situation in Ukraine, and had assured his prayers for the Ukrainian people.” “He is absolutely lucid and alert.
Pope Francis says Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 95, is 'very sick,' and requests prayers for the retired pontiff so God comforts him 'to the very end.'
His dramatic decision paved the way for the conclave that elected Pope Francis as his successor. Recent galleries can be seen on our photography page. Benedict stunned the world on Feb.
Many members of the Catholic church have been stopping by St Peter's Square to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict whose health is worsening and is described as ...
Vatican City (AP) -- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is lucid, conscious and stable but his condition remains serious, the Vatican said Thursday, a day after it ...
The health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI worsened, a Vatican official said on Wednesday.
Benedict's condition reportedly had worsened in the days before Christmas, according to Italian news agency ANSA, which cited "qualified sources." Benedict spent Christmas at his residence in the Vatican at the former Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, where a Christmas mass was celebrated for him in the little chapel in his home, ANSA reported. "We join him in praying for the Pope Emeritus," Bruni said.
A statement from Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis asked for continued prayers “to accompany him in these difficult hours.”
In the square, the line of tourists waiting to get into St. Another visitor to the square, Anna Małcka, noted Benedict’s advanced age and wished him well. John Lateran, Benedict’s former basilica in his capacity as the bishop of Rome. “Maybe that’s why there’s such a long line.” 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.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is "lucid and vigilant" but his condition remains serious, the Vatican said Thursday in an update on the former pontiff's health.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said many people would have “mixed feelings” about the life of Benedict. “I want to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who sustains the Church in his silence. He was elected as the 265th pope in April 2005, following John Paul II’s death. Benedict’s announcement marked the first time a pope had stepped down in nearly 600 years. “We ask the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church to the very end.” [Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI](https://cnn.com/2022/12/28/europe/pope-benedict-sick-pope-francis-intl/index.html) is “lucid and vigilant” but his condition remains serious, the Vatican said Thursday in an update on the former pontiff’s health.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI continues to remain in serious condition the Vatican said on Thursday.
He was the first pope to retire in 600 years. Bruni added that Benedict is constantly followed by doctors. [Benedict XVI](https://www.upi.com/topic/Pope_Benedict_XVI/) continues to remain in serious condition the Vatican said on Thursday.
A statement from Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis asks for continued prayers “to accompany him in these difficult hours.”
John Lateran, Benedict's former basilica in his capacity as the bishop of Rome. On Wednesday Francis revealed that Benedict was “very ill” and went to see him at his home in the Vatican Gardens. The Vatican later said Benedict's health had deteriorated in the recent hours.
Pope Francis, at the end of his general audience on Dec. 28, asked for prayers for a “very ill” Benedict XVI, who, “in silence, is sustaining the Church.”.
Pope Francis, at the end of his general audience on Dec. 28, asked for prayers for a “very ill” Benedict XVI, who, “in silence, is sustaining the Church.” “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,” Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni told journalists Dec.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is lucid, alert and stable but his condition remains serious, the Vatican said on Thursday (local time), a day after it revealed ...
"I believe that he is very calmly looking forward to this encounter." Few had expected his retirement - now in its 10th year - to last longer than his eight-year reign as pope. Yesterday Francis revealed that Benedict was "very ill" and went to see Benedict at his home in the Vatican where he has lived since retiring in 2013, sparking fears that he was near death.