Former Pope Benedict XVI is ‘gravely ill’. The 95-year-old German, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, resigned in 2013 for health reasons. His successor, Pope Francis, has requested prayers for his predecessor.
Benedict’s health has deteriorated rapidly in recent hours, according to the Vatican, but is said to be “under control”. Pope Francis visited him today after the service. Benedict now has doctors nearby to take care of him.
Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and resigned as head of the Vatican City Church and State in 2013 for health reasons. His tenure was overshadowed by scandals involving the sexual abuse of minors by clergy. He would have done very little against the abuse and would have covered up the misconduct. In early 2022, he apologized to the victims in the Catholic Church, but at the same time denied covering up abuse.
As a cardinal, Ratzinger had long been the right-hand man of his predecessor John Paul II. He was considered a conservative theologian and strict in doctrine. He was the first pope to resign in some six hundred years. He was granted the title of Pope Emeritus and continued to live in Vatican City. Some conservative clergy have continued to support him, seeing him as the protector of traditional values within the church.
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