Pope Benedict is not close to death despite 'fake news' reports, says Vatican

Archbishop Georg Ganswein denies reports about the former pontiff

Niamh McIntyre
Wednesday 18 October 2017 17:57 BST
Comments
Pope Benedict XVI (L) acknowledges the crowd of World Youth Day pilgrims before giving an address in Sydney July 17, 2008, as Australia's senior Catholic cleric Cardinal George Pell looks on
Pope Benedict XVI (L) acknowledges the crowd of World Youth Day pilgrims before giving an address in Sydney July 17, 2008, as Australia's senior Catholic cleric Cardinal George Pell looks on

The Vatican has been forced to deny that former Pope Benedict XVI is close to death after rumours about his ill health were circulated on social media

The reports claimed the former pontiff's personal secretary, Georg Ganswein, had said described the former leader of the Catholic Church as "like a candle that fades slowly".

The Archbishop was also alleged to have said: "He is serene, at peace with God, with himself and the world. He can no longer walk without help and can no longer celebrate Mass. Please pray for our beloved Pope Benedict 16th."

However, Father Ganstein said the report was “pure invention” in a statement to the Catholic News Agency.

“I have received in the last two days many messages that refer to this note, and people are worried”, he said. “It is false and wrong”.

The quotation which has been circulated was actually taken from a 2016 interview with Mr Ganstein, published in Italian magazine BenEssere.

Pope Benedict, born Josef Ratzinger, became the first Pope in almost six hundred years to resign his post when he stepped down in 2013.

At the time of his resignation, the Pope said he felt a duty to resign because of his declining health.

Since stepping down he has continued to live in a former convent within the Vatican as a pope Emeritus, spending his time praying, reading or writing.

He has made only a handful of public appearances in the last four years.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in