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Pope Benedict XVI health update: How is he doing?

POPE Benedict XVI will always be known as the first to abdicate his position since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

The man who replaced Pope John Paul II in 2005, took the decision to step down in 2013 due to health reasons.

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Pope Benedict XVI became the 265th pope in 2005

Who is Pope Benedict?

Pope Benedict XVI was elected to the papacy in 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II.

He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Bavaria, Germany.

He entered Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein in November 1945, and was ordained on June 29, 1951.

Pope John Paul II made him prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981.

After the death of John Paul, he presided over the state funeral at the Vatican on April 8, 2005.

At the age of 78, Ratzinger became the oldest person to be elected Pope since Clement XII in 1730.

He has had 600 works published and is fluent in ten languages.

He plays the piano with a real love for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, something he acquired as a child growing up in Bavaria.

He was the first German pontiff in 1,000 years.

Why did Pope Benedict resign?

On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict was forced to retire from his position due to poor health.

He stepped down less than eight years after being elected Pope as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

Years later he cited his declining physical and mental health in 2013 as being behind his decision to become the first Pope since 1415 to give up the job as head of the worldwide Catholic church.

How is Pope Benedict doing?

Pope Francis commented about Pope Benedict’s health at his weekly general audience on December 28, 2022.

He said: “I would like to ask for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who in silence is supporting the church.

“I remind you that he is very sick. Let’s ask the Lord to comfort him and support him in this testimony of love for the church until the end.”

A Vatican spokesperson confirmed that the former Pope’s health had worsened due to his advancing age.

Where is Pope Benedict now?

Pope Benedict decided on his retirement to remain living in the Vatican and continues to wear the white cassock of the papacy, a decision that did not go down well with some.

It has been confirmed by a Vatican spokesperson that he is receiving constant medical care and his condition is “under control”.

What is Pope Benedict’s net worth?

The net worth of Pope Benedict is a point of some conjecture.

Many sources cite different figures, but none of them claim to their figures being in any way accurate.

It is thought that his personal wealth is to be in the region of some £5m but exact figures are difficult to find.

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