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4 years ago

Former Pope Benedict is in critical condition

FILE PHOTO: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI gestures at Munich Airport before leaving for Rome, June 22, 2020. Sven Hoppe/Pool via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI gestures at Munich Airport before leaving for Rome, June 22, 2020. Sven Hoppe/Pool via REUTERS

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Former Pope Benedict XVI is seriously ill after returning to the Vatican from a visit to Germany, German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse reported on Monday, citing his biographer, reports Reuters. 

Benedict, aged 93, has become very frail and his voice is barely audible, author Peter Seewald told the daily.

But at a meeting with Seewald on Saturday, German-born Benedict appeared optimistic, and said he might pick up writing again if he regains his strength, the report said, adding he was suffering from shingles.

Benedict came to his native Bavaria in June to pay his ailing brother Georg Ratzinger a final visit. Ratzinger, aged 96, died shortly afterwards.

It was Benedict’s first trip outside Italy since 2013, the year he resigned the papacy.

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