Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is
having trouble speaking, one of the new cardinals named at
Saturday's consistory told Vatican News Wednesday.
The 93-year-old German former pope, who resigned in 2013 after
eight years on the Throne of Peter, "has difficulty in
expressing himself," said Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech.
Grech said Benedict, whose birth name is Joseph Ratzinger, told
the new cardinals after the consistory that "the Lord has taken
away my speech in order to let me appreciate silence".
"It was a moment of joy to meet Pope Benedict again, who
believed in me and made me a bishop in 2006," Grech told Vatican
News.
"To see this Pastor, this man, with the years weighing on him,
but at the same time lucid and smiling and with a will to
communicate the experience he is making of the Spirit, really
encouraged us".
The new cardinals met with Benedict after the consistory.
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