
(This Dec. 28 story has been corrected to say 'members of the LGBTQ+ community', instead of 'gays', in paragraph 8)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, a hero to conservative Catholics and who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, is "very sick", his successor Pope Francis said on Wednesday, asking Church members to pray for him.