Pope Benedict XVI is “very ill”, says Pope Francis

The Pope emeritus Benedict XVI95 years old, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign his position, he is “very sick,” he said this Wednesday his successor, Franciswho asked the Church to pray for him.

The Vatican later said in a statement that Benedict suffered a sudden “worsening” of his health in the last hours. He also indicated that his condition is “under control” and that she is receiving constant medical attention.

“I would like to ask everyone for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, sustains the Church,” Francis said in his surprise announcement.

Let’s remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to comfort him and sustain him in this testimony of love for the Church, until the end,” said the Argentine-born pope, speaking in Italian.

The Vatican specified that the German theologian is under medical surveillance and that he received a visit from his successor, Pope Francis.

“In the course of the last few hours, there has been an aggravationdue to his advanced age. The situation is currently under control, followed permanently by doctors,” the Holy See said.

Pope Francis, who visited the former pontiff shortly after his general audience, has often praised Benedict, saying that it was like having a grandfather at home. But the presence of two white-robed men in the Vatican has been problematic at times.

Conservatives consider the previous Pope as their standard-bearer and some ultra-traditionalists even they have refused to recognize Francisco as legitimate pontiff.

Until a few weeks ago, those who had seen Benedict claimed that his body was very fragile, but his mind was still sharp.

One of the last known photographs of Benedict was taken on December 1, when he met with the winners of a prize for theologians that bears his name. He was sitting up and seemed unusually weak.

Since his resignation, Benedict has lived in a former convent inside the Vatican gardens, with his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, and a few other aides and medical staff.