Msgr. Ratzinger: My brother had considered stepping down for months

The Associated Press is reporting that Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI’s older brother, has said that his brother “had been advised by his doctor not to take any more transatlantic trips and had been considering stepping down for months”:

Talking from his home in Regensburg to the news agency dpa, Georg Ratzinger said his brother was having increasing difficulty walking and that his resignation was part of a “natural process.”

“His age is weighing on him,” the 89-year-old said of his 85-year-old brother. “At this age my brother wants more rest.”

 


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About Catherine Harmon 578 Articles
Catherine Harmon works in the marketing department for Ignatius Press.