Former Pope Benedict’s health worsens

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

The Vatican on Wednesday said that the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has worsened due to his age. The 95-year-old former pope is being monitored by doctors. Current Pope Francis asked for prayer Wednesday for Benedict’s health. Francis later visited his predecessor’s residence at the monastery in the Vatican City where Benedict has lived since 2013. No additional information has been released about his illness.

Who is Pope Benedict XVI? Benedict, whose original name is Joseph Alois Ratzinger, was ordained a priest in June 1951 and taught theology at universities throughout Germany. In 1977 he was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising by Pope Paul VI. Ratzinger was elected as pope in 2005, becoming the oldest newly elected pope at age 78. In 2013, Benedict resigned as pope, the first to do so in 600 years.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Rikki Elizabeth Stinnette’s review of The Two Popes film that depicted a friendly rivalry between Pope Emeritus Benedict and Pope Francis.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.