Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has a
serious facial infection, according to a report in his homeland.
The website of German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse said it
learned of the infection from the former pope's biographer, the
writer Peter Seewald.
According to the report, the condition deteriorated after the
recent death of Benedict's brother Georg and causes "strong
pains".
Peter Seewald presented Benedict with a new biography a few days
ago.
At the meeting the former pope appeared "optimistic, despite the
illness", according to the report.
Benedict was very close to his older brother and visited him
before he died at the age of 96.
Benedict,93, abdicated in 2013, the first pope in 800 years to
do so, and became pope emeritus, being succeeded by Pope
Francis.
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