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WORLD NEWS Thursday 29 december 2022
Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI

‘worsening’

By FRANCES D’EMILIO pope,” Bruni said.
Associated Press Benedict, who was the first
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pontiff to resign in 600 years,
health of Pope Emeritus has become increasingly
Benedict XVI has worsened frail in recent years as he
due to his age, and doc- dedicated his post-papacy
tors are constantly monitor- life to prayer and medita-
ing the frail 95-year-old’s tion.
condition, the Vatican said When Benedict turned 95
Wednesday. in April, his longtime sec-
Vatican spokesperson Mat- retary, Archbishop Georg
teo Bruni said Pope Francis, Gaenswein, said the retired
who asked the faithful ear- pontiff was in good spirits,
lier Wednesday to pray for adding that “naturally he
Benedict, went to visit his is physically relatively weak
predecessor in the mon- and fragile, but rather lu-
astery on Vatican grounds Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter’s Square at the cid.
where the retired pontiff Vatican to attend the beatification ceremony of Pope Paul VI, ” Francis also paid a visit
has lived since retiring in on Oct. 19, 2014. to Benedict at the monas-
February 2013. Associated Press tery four months ago. The
“Regarding the health con- the statement. Pope Emeritus Benedict, occasion was Francis’ lat-
dition of the emeritus pope, At the end of his customary who is sustaining the church est ceremony elevating
for whom Pope Francis Wednesday audience with in silence,” Francis said. churchmen to cardinal
asked for prayers at the end the public in a Vatican au- “Remember him he is very rank, and the new “princes
of his general audience this ditorium, Francis departed ill asking the Lord to con- of the church” accompa-
morning, I can confirm that from his prepared remarks sole him and to sustain him nied him to the monastery
in the last hours, a worsen- to say that Benedict is “very in this testimony to love for for the brief greeting.
ing due to advanced age sick” and asked the faithful the church, until the end.” The Vatican released a
has happened,’’ Bruni said to pray for the retired pon- After the hour-long audi- photo at the time that
in a written statement. tiff. ence, “Pope Francis went showed a very thin-looking
“The situation at the mo- Francis didn’t elaborate on to the Mater Ecclesiae Benedict clasping Francis’
ment remains under con- Benedict’s condition. monastery to visit Benedict hand as the current and
trol, constantly monitored “I would like to ask you all XVI. Let us all unite with him past pontiff smiled at each
by doctors,” according to for a special prayer for in prayer for the emeritus other. q

Rain, floods in Philippines leave 29 dead, dozens

missing

MANILA, Philippines (AP) across chest-deep floods meet triggered rains in ate to heavy rains within
— Heavy rains and floods using a rope. parts of the country, the the next 24 hours to the
that devastated parts of Eighteen of the 29 deaths state weather bureau same areas affected by
the Philippines over the were reported in the said. A new low pressure the floods, it said.q
Christmas weekend have Northern Mindanao re- area may bring moder-
left at least 29 dead and gion, while 12 of the 25
25 missing, the national missing were from Eastern
disaster response agency Visayas in the central Phil-
said Wednesday. ippines, the National Di-
More than 86,000 people saster Risk Reduction and
were still in emergency Management Council
shelters after bad weather said.
disrupted Christmas cel- Most of the deaths were
ebrations in the eastern, from drowning while
central and southern Phil- among the missing were
ippines. fishermen whose boats
Images from the south- capsized, the agency
ern province of Misamis said.
Occidental showed res- Over 3,200 houses were
cuers carrying an elderly damaged by the floods
woman on a plastic chair along with roads and
as they waded through bridges, and some areas
a flooded street. Some were without power or In this image provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, an
residents in the province water, the agency report- elderly woman sits on a chair while being carried by coast
were seen hanging on to ed. guard personnel wading through floodwaters in Plaridel,
floaters as coast guard A shear line the point Misamis Occidental province in the southern Philippines,
rescuers pulled them where warm and cold air Monday, Dec. 26, 2022. Associated Press