Status: 12/30/2022 7:27 p.m
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. remains in his residence despite his serious illness. The Vatican said his condition had not deteriorated. According to the media, the 95-year-old suffers from kidney problems.
The state of health of Benedict XVI. has not changed negatively according to official information from the Vatican. “Last night the Pope Emeritus slept well. He also attended the celebration of Holy Mass in his room yesterday afternoon. His condition is currently stable,” said Matteo Bruni, spokesman for the Holy See.
The 95-year-old is being looked after and medically monitored in the former Mater Ecclesiae monastery. His health had deteriorated over the Christmas holidays, the Vatican said. Pope Francis called his predecessor “very ill” and asked the faithful to pray for the pontiff, who resigned in 2013.
Benedict XVI apparently responsive
The usually well-informed Roman Catholic daily “La Croix” from France reported, citing several sources, that Benedict had been treated for kidney problems. The Italian news agency Ansa had also reported possible kidney failure. The Vatican did not comment on this. It was said recently only that the situation was under control.
The Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” wrote that Benedict “lost consciousness for a while” during the phase when the situation had deteriorated. But already on Thursday he reacted positively to the treatment and was able to communicate with the people again, it was said. The native Bavarian himself refused to be taken to a hospital.
Vatican holds mass for Benedict
The diocese of Rome commemorated its former bishop and pope with a mass in the Lateran Basilica. In addition to long-time Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, the papal social commissioner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, also attended the service. Among the approximately 700 participants were many nuns.
“We are here to support him with our hopeful prayer and all our affection to express to God the gratitude of this diocese that he loved so much and served with selfless love,” Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis said.
First resignation in almost 600 years
In February 2013, Benedict resigned from his post as Pope in a highly unusual move for health reasons. With his resignation, he wrote church history: Benedict was the first pope since 1415 to resign as head of the Catholic Church.