- Pope Francis made the surprise appeal at the end of his audience this morning
- Benedict, 95, served as Pope from April 2005 until he resigned in February 2013
- He stepped down due to old age but his papacy was wracked with scandals
December 28, (DAILY SUNRISE) Pope Francis on Wednesday called for prayers for his predecessor, the former Pope Benedict XVI, who he claims is ‘very sick’.
Pope Francis made the surprise appeal at the end of his weekly audience and gave no other details, though a Vatican statement later said Benedict had experienced a sudden ‘worsening’ of his health in recent hours.
‘I would like to ask all of you to pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict… To remember him, because he is very ill, asking the Lord to console and support him,’ the pontiff said at the Vatican.
Benedict, 95, served as the head of the Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from April 2005 to February 2013 stepped down due to old age.
He was the first pontiff to resign in 600 years and cited advancing age as a key factor limiting his capabilities to carry out his papal duties.
Francis previously hailed the decision of his predecessor to resign amid old age – it was his stepping down that paved the way for Francis’ election as the first pontiff from South America.
Earlier this month, the incumbent Pope revealed that he too submitted a resignation letter soon after his election in 2013 that would take effect should illness prevent him from fulfilling his duties.
Francis, who turned 86 this year, said he gave the letter to then secretary of Vatican City State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
