Pope Benedict, who retired after a papacy that spanned nearly eight years in 2013, has been suffering from health problems as of late. His condition is likely to worsen in the coming months as he continues to age, becoming increasingly frail and unable to walk.
The pope’s health has been deteriorating for several years. He walks with difficulty and can no longer hear well enough to follow long conversations or lectures. He also spends most of his time in his apartment in the Apostolic Palace instead of at public events where he would be exposed to crowds and light exposure, which would aggravate his eye problems.
Pope Francis has said that each pontiff should take into consideration their own physical condition when deciding whether to resign because of age or illness — but only if those conditions affect their ability to carry out their duties as Supreme Pontiff.
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Pope Benedict Suffering From Health Issues
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Pope Benedict retired in 2013, the first pope to do so in centuries. He was 85 years old at the time and had been pope for eight years. His successor is Pope Francis, who has continued Benedict’s legacy of promoting peace and tolerance for people of all religions.
The decision surprised many Catholics because it meant that a new leader would need to be elected at just the right moment—when there were enough cardinals available to choose one (about 115) but not too many (130). In addition, Benedict wanted enough time between his retirement and selection as pope so that he could enjoy some privacy before entering public life again as a religious leader.
