Outpouring of prayers for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Image: Vatican News

Source: Vatican News

Prayers for the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have been pouring in from across the world since Pope Francis announced yesterday that his 95-year-old predecessor was seriously ill.

The Pope said: "I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who in silence is supporting the Church. Remember him - he is very ill - asking the Lord to console him, and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end."

This morning, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said the Pope Emeritus was able to rest well overnight.

"He is absolutely lucid and alert. Today, although his condition remains serious, the situation remains stable at the moment," he said. "Pope Francis renews his invitation to pray for him and accompany him in these difficult hours."

Christians, as well as non-Christians, have responded in droves to Pope Francis' request for prayers for the German-born Pope Emeritus.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, tweeted yesterday: "We have read with great concern the reports of Pope Benedict XVI's declining health. We join our prayers with those of Pope Francis & Catholics around the world as we ask for the Lord's grace to help sustain Pope Benedict as he has sustained the Church through his silent witness."

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, issued a statement this morning, requesting that Catholics of the Archdiocese of New York pray Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He said: "With great faith in God's goodness, I join with Pope Francis in praying for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and ask the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of New York, and all people of good will go do the same."

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster tweeted: "Let us join with Pope Francis in praying for Pope Emeritus Benedict, and asking the Lord to sustain and console him at this time."

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk urged the Synod and all the faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to pray for Benedict. He said: "The whole Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church wants to unite in prayer around this great witness of our times, thanking him for his silent witness as Pope Emeritus and at the same time remembering and seeking to put into practice his work for the unity of the Church, which was an extraordinary feature of his pontificate."

Major Archbishop Shevchuk met recently with Benedict at his residence in the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on 10 November. He later recounted that the Pope Emeritus was "incredibly lucid, informed and solicitous about the situation in Ukraine, and had assured his prayers for the Ukrainian people."

The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, also tweeted his prayerful support for Benedict. "Concerned about the news about the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict, I join in prayers that he may overcome the ordeal and recover soon," he said.

The president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, urged Italians to "gather around the Pope Emeritus" in prayer at this trying time, recalling Benedict's own description of his mission following his resignation from the papacy.

"His remaining 'in a new way with the Crucified Lord,' continuing to 'accompany the path of the Church with prayer and reflection' constitutes a strong message for the ecclesial community and the whole society."