VATICAN CITY Fitness of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He has
deteriorated in recent hours due to advanced age and doctors are
continuing to monitor his condition, the Vatican said on Wednesday, as
Pope Francis appealed to the faithful to hope for his "very ill"
predecessor. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis visited
Benedict, 95, in the convent where he lives on Vatican grounds as he
retires as pope emeritus in February 2013, for which Pope Francis asked
for prayers this morning. Abandoning its audience, I can confirm that
there has been a deterioration in recent hours due to aging," Bruni said in
a written statement. Meanwhile, the situation remains under control and
is constantly monitored with the help of documents," the statement said.
Posting his usual Wednesday mission with the masses in a Vatican hall,
Francis deviated from his organized response to refer to Benedict as
very ill" and told store stewards to expect the pope to retire. Francis did
not complicate Benedict's situation. I really want to invite you to a unique