Severe breathing problems for days: vital functions of Benedict XVI. should subside

In the morning, Pope Francis inaugurates the world: His predecessor Benedict XVI.

Severe breathing problems for days: vital functions of Benedict XVI. should subside

In the morning, Pope Francis inaugurates the world: His predecessor Benedict XVI. was "very ill". He has reportedly been suffering from severe breathing problems for some time. Now the vital bodily functions should gradually decrease.

The state of health of the retired German Pope Benedict XVI. deteriorates according to information from the Vatican. The vital bodily functions of the pontiff, who left office in 2013, decreased, "including the heart," according to sources in the Holy See. The incumbent Pope Francis said at his general audience in the morning that his predecessor was "very ill" and called for prayer for him.

The Italian news agency ANSA reports "breathing problems" that the 95-year-old Benedikt complained about before Christmas. As Vatican circles say, for Benedict XVI. no hospital admission planned. His residence in the former Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens has the necessary medical equipment.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni had already officially confirmed in the morning that Benedict's health had deteriorated "due to age". The situation is "under control at the moment" and is "constantly monitored by doctors". Pope Francis visited his predecessor after the general audience.

Born in Bavaria in 1927, Benedikt resigned from his position in an unusual step in February 2013 for health reasons and has lived a secluded life ever since. He was the first pope since 1415 to resign as head of the Catholic Church.

Benedict recently withdrew almost entirely from the public eye. But in recent weeks he has continued to receive visitors while sitting in a wheelchair. Some photos published on the online networks showed him increasingly frail.