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Pope Francis concluded his general audience on Wednesday by requesting prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Francis acknowledged Benedict’s health was declining and urged Catholics to pray for him. According to EWTN, he is “suffering from aggravated kidney failure and had a recent modification to his pacemaker”.
The Vatican has released a prayer for Benedict that Catholics are encouraged to use while praying for the him.
The prayer for Benedict is as follows:
Let us pray,
Almighty and Eternal God,
You are the everlasting health of those who believe in You.
Hear our prayers for your sick servant Benedict
For whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi acknowledged the cardinals were praying for Benedict during such a time.
“At this time of suffering and trial, we gather around the Pope Emeritus. We assure remembrance in prayer in our churches, in the knowledge, as he himself has reminded us, that ‘no matter how hard the trials, difficult the problems, heavy the suffering, we will never fall out of the hands of God, those hands that created us, sustain us and accompany us on the journey of existence, because they are guided by an infinite and faithful love,” wrote Zuppi in a statement released on December 28.
The Vatican released an update on Pope Benedict Thursday morning, according to Catholic News Agency, where they said the pope’s condition was “serious.” According to the statement released by Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni, “the Pope Emeritus was able to rest well last night. He is absolutely lucid and alert today, although his condition remains serious, the situation as the moment is stable.”
The Diocese of Rome will be offering a special Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on December 30, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The pope gave an address before the midday Angelus at St. Peter’s Square in 2006 where he spoke about death and how Jesus changed the meaning of death:
“To die, in fact, is part of life and not only of its end, but, if we pay attention, of every instant. Despite all the distractions, the loss of a loved one makes us discover the ‘problem’, making us feel death as a radically hostile presence contrary to our natural vocation to life and happiness. Jesus revolutionized the meaning of death. He did so with his teaching, above all by facing death himself….ultimately, he (Jesus) was born to be able to die and in this way to free us from the slavery of death….those who commit themselves to live like him are freed from the fear of death, no longer showing the sarcastic smile of an enemy but offering the friendly face of a ‘sister’, as St. Francis wrote in the ‘Canticle of Creatures,’” said Benedict XVI.
Let us resolve to continue praying for the pope emeritus throughout this time.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
