Pope Francis on Wednesday appealed for prayers for his “very sick” predecessor Pope Benedict who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down. In a surprise announcement at the end of his weekly general audience, Francis said, “I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the Church,” reported Reuters.
"Let us remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end," Francis said, speaking in Italian.
Those who had seen Benedict until a few weeks ago said his body was very frail but his mind was still sharp, the report stated.
His latest known photograph was taken on December 1 when he met the winners of a prize for theologians named after him. He was seated and looked exceptionally weak.
Since his resignation Benedict has been living in a former convent inside the Vatican gardens, with his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, and a few other aides and medical staff.
Benedict announced his intention to resign on February 11, 2013, shocking a meeting of cardinals. He said he no longer had the physical and mental strength to run the Church.
He formally stepped down on Feb. 28 that year, moving temporarily to the papal summer residence south of Rome while cardinals from around the world came to Rome to choose his successor.
On March 13, 2013, Francis — the first pope from Latin America — was elected to succeed Benedict.
Benedict, the first German pope in 1,000 years, was elected on April 19, 2005 to succeed the widely popular Pope John Paul II, who reigned for 27 years.