Pope Benedict XVI's health is worsening, Vatican says - USA TODAY

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Pope Francis is asking the faithful for their prayers arsenic the wellness of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI worsens.

Speaking connected Wednesday, Francis departed from his prepared remarks to denote that Benedict is "very sick." He didn't elaborate connected the information of Benedict, 95.

"I'd similar to inquire each of you for a peculiar supplication for Emeritus Pope Benedict, who, successful silence, is sustaining the church," Francis said successful remarks adjacent the extremity of an hourlong audience. "I punctual you that helium is precise sick."

The Vatican said Francis had visited Benedict, who retired successful February 2013, citing mediocre health. The Roman Catholic Church has astir 1.3 cardinal members worldwide.

What to cognize astir Benedict

Born successful 1927 successful what is present Germany arsenic Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Benedict was selected pope successful 2005 aft the decease of Pope John Paul II and officiated astatine his funeral.
As a teenager, Ratzinger was drafted into the Nazi Germany subject but deserted and was held captive by American troops. He became a clergyman soon after.
Benedict served arsenic the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church from April 2005 to February 2013, a clip successful which the religion was nether worldwide disapproval for its handling of intersexual abuse committed by priests and volunteers.
Known for his blimpish views, Benedict held a doctorate successful theology and served for a small little than 10 years arsenic pope earlier stepping down, citing his intelligence and carnal health.
He was the archetypal pope to resign since the 1400s; popes usually service until their death.

Major issues during Benedict's papacy

Benedict inherited a religion nether wide and increasing disapproval implicit enactment abuses committed by priests and volunteers, which religion leaders had covered up for decades. Many dioceses were forced to adjacent oregon consolidate during his papacy due to the fact that of the ample fiscal settlements paid to victims and their families.

PARDON SOUGHT: Retired Pope Benedict XVI asks pardon for clergy enactment maltreatment cases

An adept successful spiritual doctrine, Benedict was known arsenic a conservative and took respective steps to instrumentality the religion to much accepted practices and beliefs. But helium besides upset galore American Catholics who had hoped to spot a liberalization astir the relation of women successful the church.

Benedict besides made comments that offended immoderate Jews and Muslims. In 2006 helium made a historic travel to Turkey, wherever helium prayed astatine a Muslim mosque.

Worsening health

When Benedict turned 95 successful April, his longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, said the retired pontiff was successful bully spirits, adding that "naturally helium is physically comparatively anemic and fragile but alternatively lucid."

Benedict had adopted the rubric pope emeritus and lived successful a monastery connected the Vatican grounds successful retirement.

Francis besides paid a sojourn to Benedict astatine the monastery 4 months ago. The juncture was Francis' latest ceremonial elevating churchmen to cardinal rank, and the caller "princes of the church" accompanied him to the monastery for the little greeting.

The Vatican released a photograph astatine the clip that showed a precise thin-looking Benedict clasping Francis' manus arsenic the existent and past pontiff smiled astatine each other.

In his archetypal years of retirement, Benedict attended a mates of cardinal-elevating ceremonies successful St. Peter's Basilica. But successful caller years, helium wasn't beardown capable to be the agelong service.