In an interview with the Italian bishops' newspaper Avvenire on Monday, August 22, on the occasion of the priest's upcoming 80th birthday on August 29, Father Federico Lombardi, former director of the Vatican Press Office from 2006 to 2016 declared: "Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is ready to meet the Lord."
Father Lombardi, who is also a former Italian Jesuit provincial and former director of the Vatican Television Center, said the priest had been "almost throughout the pontificate of Benedict XVI from 2006 until his resignation in February." year 2013.”
Father Lombardi emphasized that Benedict XVI was "a scholarly man and a theological pope with very clear ideas".
The great virtue of Benedict XVI, the priest said, is "humility. In conversations with me, he always speaks in Italian, he does not speak German”, although Father Lombardi learned German while studying theology in Frankfurt and he was ordained a priest there in 1972.
Benedict XVI spoke only occasionally in German when he spoke to the archbishop Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary, and he politely "repeats it in Italian" although this is not necessary.
Lombardi's last meeting with Pope Benedict XVI
Father Lombardi said his last meeting with Pope Benedict XVI was on May 7, to inform him of the news of the awarding of the award of the foundation named after him.
According to Father Lombardi, Benedict XVI, who turned 95 in April, "remains remarkably lucid, he has a remarkable memory and connectivity for his age."
After meeting Benedict XVI, the impression left on the priest's mind, "This is a man who, though weak, radiates serenity. Thanks to a life of deep prayer, I think.” “He always had a beautiful smile on his face when he said goodbye and felt ready to meet the Lord,” said the priest.