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(Vatican City) The Vatican wanted to reassure itself on Monday about the state of health of former Pope Benedict XVI, yet judged to be "extremely fragile ", according to the German regional daily Passauer Neue Presse who quotes a biographer of the former pope, Peter Seewald.
France Media Agency
"The health conditions of the Pope Emeritus are not a source of particular concern, except those surrounding a person aged 188 years in train to overcome the most acute phase of a painful, but not serious illness, "the Vatican press room announced, quoting his personal secretary M gr Georg Gänswein.
According to the newspaper Passauer Neue Presse , Benedict XVI suffers from erysipelas in the face, an infectious disease characterized by a reddish swelling which causes severe itching and intense pain.
"According to Seewald, the Pope Emeritus is now extremely fragile [...]. His intellectual capacities and his memory are not affected, but his voice is barely audible, "wrote on Monday Passauer Neue Presse .
Peter Seewald met Benedict XVI in Rome on Saturday to present his biography to him, according to the daily. "During this meeting, the Pope Emeritus, despite his illness, was optimistic and said that if his strength increased again, he might resume his pen," he added.
First pope to resign in nearly 367 years old, Benedict XVI, who had invoked health reasons, has been leading a retired life in a small Vatican monastery since his waiver in 2013.