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Pope Francis is asking the faithful for their prayers as the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI worsens.
Speaking on Wednesday, Francis departed from his prepared remarks to announce that Benedict is « very sick. » He didn’t elaborate on the condition of Benedict, 95.
« I’d like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Emeritus Pope Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the church, » Francis said in remarks near the end of an hourlong audience. « I remind you that he is very sick. »
The Vatican said Francis had visited Benedict, who retired in February 2013, citing poor health. The Roman Catholic Church has about 1.3 billion members worldwide.What to know about Benedict
Born in 1927 in what is now Germany as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Benedict was selected pope in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II and officiated at his funeral.
As a teenager, Ratzinger was drafted into the Nazi Germany military but deserted and was held captive by American troops. He became a priest shortly after.
Benedict served as the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church from April 2005 to February 2013, a time in which the church was under worldwide criticism for its handling of sexual abuse committed by priests and volunteers.
