Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. According to his successor Francis, he is "very ill". At the end of the general audience in the Vatican, the current pontiff asked the faithful for a "special prayer" for the 95-year-old Benedict.

"Think of him, he is very ill. And ask the Lord to console and support him in this testimony of love for the Church until the end," said Francis. Francis and the Holy See did not initially give any further details.

Born in Bavaria, whose name was Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected Pope, he has lived relatively isolated in a monastery in the Vatican since his resignation in 2013. Recently it has been said for months that Benedict is physically weak and can hardly speak. Mentally, however, he is fit according to the circumstances. At irregular intervals, Benedikt, who is cared for by his long-time companion Georg Gänswein and nuns, also received visitors.