Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

=== Health ===
Before his election as pope, Ratzinger had hoped to retire{{snd}}on account of age-related health problems, a long-held desire to have free time to write, and the retirement age for bishops (75){{snd}}and submitted his resignation as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith three times, but continued at his post in obedience to the wishes of John Paul{{nbsp}}II. In September 1991, Ratzinger suffered a haemorrhagic stroke, which slightly impaired his eyesight temporarily but from which he recovered completely.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/neuer-papst_aid_93745.html |title=Vor Jahren Ratzinger erlitt Hirnblutung |work=FOCUS Online |language=de |access-date=14 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011081327/http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/neuer-papst_aid_93745.html |archive-date=11 October 2012 }}</ref> This was never officially made public{{snd}}the official news was that he had fallen and struck his head against a radiator{{snd}}but was an open secret known to the conclave that elected him pope.<ref name="op-online.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.op-online.de/nachrichten/welt/gesund-papst-benedikt-xvi-412967.html |title=Wie gesund ist Papst Benedikt XVI.? |language=de |publisher=Op-online.de |date=17 July 2009 |access-date=12 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719071958/http://www.op-online.de/nachrichten/welt/gesund-papst-benedikt-xvi-412967.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:BentoXVI-29-10052007.jpg|thumb|upright|Benedict in [[choir dress]] with the red summer [[papal mozzetta]], embroidered red [[stole (vestment)|stole]], and the red [[papal shoes]]]]
After his election in April 2005 there were several rumours about the Pope's health, but none of them were confirmed. Early in his pontificate Benedict predicted a short reign, which led to concerns about his health.<ref>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.health21apr21,0,5684034.story "Pope predicted 'short reign' in remarks just after election"] ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' 21 April 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928131801/http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.health21apr21,0,5684034.story WebCitation archive]</ref> In May 2005 the Vatican announced that he had suffered another mild stroke. French cardinal [[Philippe Barbarin]] said that since the first stroke Ratzinger had been suffering from an age-related heart condition, for which he was on medication. In late November 2006 Vatican insiders told the international press that the Pope had had a routine examination of the heart.<ref name="op-online.de" /> A few days later an unconfirmed rumour emerged that Benedict had undergone an operation in preparation for an eventual bypass operation, but this rumour was only published by a small left-wing Italian newspaper and was never confirmed by any Vatican insider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/5510527.asp?gid=74 |title=Vatican: Pope Benedict's gaffes result of high tension |work=Hürriyet Daily News |date=27 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018080510/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/5510527.asp?gid=74 |archive-date=18 October 2012 }}</ref>

On 17 July 2009, Benedict was hospitalized after falling and breaking his right wrist while on vacation in the Alps; his injuries were reported to be minor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/pope-benedict-xvi-leaves-hospital-after-breaking-wrist-in-fall |title=Pope Benedict XVI Leaves Hospital After Breaking Wrist in Fall |publisher=Fox News |date=17 July 2009 |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202230348/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533505,00.html |archive-date=2 December 2011 }}</ref>

Following the announcement of his resignation, the Vatican revealed that Benedict had been fitted with a [[pacemaker]] while he was still a cardinal, before his election as pope in 2005. The battery in the pacemaker had been replaced three months earlier, a routine procedure, but that did not influence his decision.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/pope-benedict-xvi-says-he-will-retire.html?pagewanted=all "A Statement Rocks Rome, Then Sends Shockwaves Around the World"]. ''The New York Times'', 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2012.</ref>