World June 02, 2019
Pope says he draws strength from relationship with Benedict XVI
By Courtney Grogan
ROME—(CNA) Pope Francis said Sunday that his relationship with Benedict XVI gives him strength and reminds him of the living tradition of the Church.
“When I hear him speak, I become strong. I hear this story of the Church,” Pope Francis said of Benedict in an in-flight press conference June 2.
Speaking aboard the papal flight returning from Romania, Francis said that each time he visits the pope emeritus, he feels more like family.
“Every time I go to visit him I feel like that, I take his hand and get him to talk. He speaks little, slowly, but with the same depth, as always -- because Benedict's problem is his knees, not his head,” he said.
Pope Francis also commented on the future of Europe following the European Parliament elections on May 26.
“Europe must talk … If Europe does not look well at future challenges, Europe will wither, it will be withered,” he said.
“Please do not let Europe be overcome by pessimism and ideologies,” he said. “Because Europe is attacked not with cannons or bombs, but with ideologies. Ideologies that are not European, that come from outside and are born in small groups in Europe.”