State of Benedict XVI. “unchanged” – the 95-year-old is said to suffer from kidney problems Selenskyj announces further expansion of the air force +++ 3000 civilian deaths in Mariupol

The state of health of Benedict XVI. has not changed negatively until Friday, according to official information from the Vatican. «Last night the pope emeritus slept well. He also attended the celebration of Holy Mass in his room yesterday afternoon. His condition is currently stable,” said Matteo Bruni, spokesman for the Holy See.

The 95-year-old is being cared for and medically checked at the former monastery of Mater Ecclesiae. His health had deteriorated over the Christmas holiday, the Vatican said. Pope Francis called his predecessor “very ill” and asked the faithful to pray for the pope who resigned in 2013.

A Mass for Benedict was held in Rome’s Lateran Basilica for several hundred worshipers on Friday evening. “We are here to join him with our prayers of trust,” Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis said. Francis did not attend mass as planned.

The generally well-informed Roman Catholic daily “La Croix” from France reported, citing various sources, that Benedict had been treated for kidney problems. The Italian news agency Ansa had also reported possible kidney failure. The Vatican has not commented on this. In the end it was only said that the situation was under control.

The Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” wrote on Friday that Benedict “lost consciousness for a moment” in the phase when the situation worsened. But as early as Thursday he responded positively to the treatment and was able to communicate with people again, it was said. The native Bavarian himself refused to be taken to a hospital. (sda/dpa)