Where Peter Is asks for prayers for our beloved Pope Emeritus. May he finish the race strong and receive the crown of righteousness.

Vatican News reports:

The Pope emeritus was responding to the many inquiries from readers as to how he is spending “this last period of his life.” Noting the “slow decline” of his “physical strength,” Benedict says in the letter that “interiorly, I am on a pilgrimage towards Home.” 

Aleteia adds more details:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is suffering from a nerve disease, which is paralyzing him little by little, according to his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger…. According to Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, the illness of the former pope forces him to use a wheelchair more and more often. If paralysis reaches the heart, he says, “everything could finish quickly.” 

*Correction, Aleteia now reports:

Aides of the Pope Emeritus at the Vatican, however, said all of this is baseless. While acknowledging that the former pope, who turns 91 in April, does have difficulty getting around, they said he still takes a daily walk in the Vatican Gardens. His increasing immobility is due to age, not any neurological disease.

Photo Credit: By The Catholic news agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Katolička tiskovna agencija Biskupske konferencije Bosne i Hercegovine) (http://www.ktabkbih.net/info.asp?id=29227) [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

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Paul Fahey

Paul Faheylives in Michigan with his wife and five kids. He is a limited licensed professional counselor, retreat leader, and catechist. He is a co-founder of Where Peter Is, founder and co-host of the Pope Francis Generation podcast, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and produces resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse.