Pope Francis says Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is “very sick,” and he asked the faithful to pray for the retired pontiff so God will comfort him “to the very end.”.
FILE - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, left, greets Pope Francis prior to the start of the beatification ceremony of Pope Paul VI and a mass for the closing of a two-week synod on family issues, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Pope Francis has said that if and when he ever retires, he wouldnt live in the Vatican or return to his native Argentina but would like to find a church in Rome where he could continue hearing confessions.
Benedict, 95, lives in a convent on Vatican grounds. He has become increasingly frail in recent years as he dedicates his post-papacy life to prayer and meditation. "Let's ask the Lord to comfort him and sustain him in this testimony of love to the church to the very end,'' Francis said.
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