The former pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff in 600 years to resign instead of ruling for life, is seriously ill, a German newspaper has reported. The newspaper, Passauer Neue Presse, cited Benedict’s biographer, the German author Peter Seewald, who met the 93-year-old emeritus pope at the Vatican on Saturday. At the time of Benedict’s resignation the Vatican was mired in financial woes, sexual abuse scandals, and infighting among bureaucrats that led to leaks of important documents. Hardline conservatives in the Catholic church who have been alarmed by Pope Francis’s progressive moves have looked to Benedict as their standard-bearer. This forced the former pope on several occasions to remind them there is only one pope – Francis.

Source: The Guardian August 03, 2020 14:03 UTC