Benedict returns to Vatican to live side-by-side with Pope Francis

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I guess we praise GOD for the “extra protection” and press-on. Emeritus Pope Benedict looks really diminished physically from last public viewing. FOX News pic is a good comparison with Francis.

I pray for the health of both of them, and a very peaceful passing when GOD allows each to really ‘retire.’

LAUS DEO.
 
OriginalJS said:
Two popes in residence! There haven’t been two popes in residence ever, as far as I know. During the Great Schism the various popes were in different cities, I think. These are indeed exciting times!
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There can be and always has been only one legitimate Pope. What we see today is one ex-Pope (technically a Bishop I think?) and the current Pope living in Vatican City.

Yes, exciting times, and yes, Benedict looks frail. Pray for them both.
 
He was our pastor just prior to becoming Bishop. A good priest and a decent man. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.

Gives you pause to thank God for, and make the most of, every minute we have.
 
OriginalJS said:
foxnews.com/world/2013/05/02/benedict-returns-to-vatican-to-live-side-by-side-with-pope-francis/

Two popes in residence! There haven’t been two popes in residence ever, as far as I know. During the Great Schism the various popes were in different cities, I think. These are indeed exciting times!/QUOTE

No, one Pope in residence, Pope Francis. Our beloved Benedect is our retired pope and no longer has any authority other than all the other retired bishops have. Lets keep them both in our love and prayers. God Bless, Memaw
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I love Pope Benedict. I’m glad he’s back, but its a little bittersweet too, its hard to see him weakened, I miss him very much:(
 
Glad to see that he’s back at the Vatican, but he looks SO frail. Pains me very much. I pray for him often, and will be sure to increase my prayers for him.
 
That warms my heart, though I fear we won’t have him with us much longer. He is looking very thin. I get so upset when I think about all the people (outside the church) who said he was stepping down out of cowardice, etc. when he is clearly very frail. What a wonderful, holy man. It gives me comfort to know he is praying for the world.
 
I wonder if his rapid weight loss is due to old age, or an undiagnosed disease of some kind? I’m not saying this to be gossipy, I’m just concerned.

I wonder, too, if the Holy Spirit gave him the insight that he didn’t have much longer. I know of someone who knew he was going to die though he wasn’t ill at the time- he made an appointment for Confession and died about 3 days later. We were happy that he was able to make his last Confession- what better way to prepare for death?
 
Wow, I haven’t seen pictures of Benedict in a while. He does look very frail. The weight loss might be indicative of something serious, about which he may have known when he stepped down. Praying for him…
 
Pope Emeritus Benedict does look quite frail. I wonder if the article is right when it says he is not ill?
Lets keep him in out prayers
 
NeedsMercy said:
Wow, I haven’t seen pictures of Benedict in a while. He does look very frail. The weight loss might be indicative of something serious, about which he may have known when he stepped down. Praying for him…
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His frailty has been evident for some time. I can’t believe that he was criticized for stepping down. People get OLD. I remember that Thurgood Marshall stepped down for health reasons form the Supreme Court and a reporter asked him what. Marshall turned to him and said “I just got too d----d old!” The spirit is willing but the flesh is week. I hope Benedict is able to serve us longer. We are losing probably the best theologian ever to sit on the papal throne.
 
Jennifoo said:
I wonder if his rapid weight loss is due to old age, or an undiagnosed disease of some kind? I’m not saying this to be gossipy, I’m just concerned.

I wonder, too, if the Holy Spirit gave him the insight that he didn’t have much longer. I know of someone who knew he was going to die though he wasn’t ill at the time- he made an appointment for Confession and died about 3 days later. We were happy that he was able to make his last Confession- what better way to prepare for death?
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Christine85 said:
Pope Emeritus Benedict does look quite frail. I wonder if the article is right when it says he is not ill?
Lets keep him in out prayers
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As a senior myself, I can testify that we gain or lose weight very radically after a certain age. A lot of it is age, diet, lack of sleep (older people sleep less), and medications (older people take more meds). If I’m not mistaken, Benedict XVI is hypertensive and he has a pacemaker. Sometimes, doctors will prescribe diuretics to that type of patient.

The other factor is that we rarely saw Benedict XVI in a house cassock. A dress cassock is constructed like a suit jacket. It’s meant to be worn over a full set of clothes, including a dress shirt. The shoulders are broad and padded. Not so in a house cassock, which is worn over your T-shirt and it’s lightweight. If you wear a surplice and red mozzetta over a formal cassock, it gives you more volume. Part is just the fact that you have more layers of clothing and part is the visual effect created by the cut and color.

I wouldn’t be surprised that he may have lost weight. But I can see that there are some other considerations that may have disguised his weight loss. He could have been losing weight all along and we never noticed. Another thing that I’m noticing is that he’s wearing his hair longer. I don’t remember him having curls. I wonder if longer hair makes your face look more gaunt.
 
The media keeps saying “two popes” in residence. They are mistaken. There is one pope. The Diocese of Rome can only have one bishop. The others are vicars and auxiliaries.

Let’s look at the USA. If I put the two Carter, the Bush men, Clinton and Obama in the same room, I wouldn’t say that there are five presidents. There is a president and four former presidents.

In monarchies they do the same thing. When the monarch dies, the queen becomes the Queen Mother and her daughter-in-law becomes the queen. There are not to queens.

In other circles the term “emeritus” is used, more common in the Church and in academia.
 
JReducation said:
Another thing that I’m noticing is that he’s wearing his hair longer. I don’t remember him having curls. I wonder if longer hair makes your face look more gaunt.
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Pope Francis eliminated the Vatican barber shop to save money. 🙂

Personally I’d like to see both with beards.
 
Was the plan always for him to return to the Vatican? I thought he was supposed to live at the other place (can’t remember the name) indefinitely? Also, why did he return if he is not technically the Pope anymore?
 
Benedict will now dedicate himself to a life of private prayer in the service of the Church, according to the Vatican.
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I hope he remembers to pray for his former sheep - confused, lost or otherwise. :o
 
Jennifoo said:
I wonder if his rapid weight loss is due to old age, or an undiagnosed disease of some kind? I’m not saying this to be gossipy, I’m just concerned.

I wonder, too, if the Holy Spirit gave him the insight that he didn’t have much longer. I know of someone who knew he was going to die though he wasn’t ill at the time- he made an appointment for Confession and died about 3 days later. We were happy that he was able to make his last Confession- what better way to prepare for death?
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I agree with you that Pope Benedict’s descision to resign was inspired by the Holy Spirit because if he remained in office for just 4 more years we would have never had Cardinal Bergoglio become Pope Francis since in 4 years Bergoglio wouldn’t have been eligible anymore in case of a conclave…
I love Pope Benedict!I happened to be very lucky to participate in a general audience in the vatican last September on my birthday and though he was very tired and frail…he gave us the best of himself and i received papal blessings on my birthday:D
 
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