The state of health of emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. is stable according to consistent media reports. This was reported by the Ansa news agency on Friday morning. She also refers to an unnamed person from the former Mater Ecclesiae monastery.
Benedict has lived there since his resignation as pope in 2013; he is currently being treated in the home in the Vatican Gardens. The 95-year-old celebrated a morning mass in his bedroom with his confidante and private secretary Georg Gänswein.
Lost consciousness for some time
The generally well-informed Roman Catholic daily “La Croix” from France reports, citing various sources, that Benedict was being treated for kidney problems. Ansa also reported possible kidney failure. Official information from the Vatican is currently unavailable.
Pope Francis announced on Wednesday that his predecessor was very ill. The Holy See subsequently announced that the condition of the Pope Emeritus had deteriorated in recent days, but that the situation was under control given the circumstances.
The Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” writes that Benedict “lost consciousness for a while” during the phase when the situation worsened. But already on Thursday he responded positively to the treatment and was able to communicate with people again, it is said. Born in Bavaria, he refused to be taken to a hospital. (SDA/no)