The former pope is “absolutely lucid and alert” and his condition is serious but stable, the Vatican said.
The update comes a day later. Pope Francisco said his predecessor, Benedict XVI, was “very ill” and asked people to pray so that God would comfort him “until the end.”
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: “The pope emeritus was able to rest well last night. He is absolutely lucid and alert today, although his condition remains serious, the situation at the moment is stable.”
“Pope Francis renews his invitation to pray for him and accompany him in these difficult hours.”
The current pope did not elaborate on Benedict’s condition when he asked people to pray for him at the end of his general audience on Wednesday.
The Vatican said after the service that the 95-year-old’s condition suddenly “worsened due to age.”
A spokesman said he was receiving constant medical attention and his condition was “under control”.
Benedict became the first pope in some 600 years to resign in 2013 due to deteriorating health, with the former pontiff assuming the title of pope emeritus.
She has been living in the Vatican and devoting her life to prayer and meditation, but has become increasingly fragile in recent years.
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Pope asks for prayers for Benedict XVI
Some cardinals and lawyers have questioned Benedict’s retirement decisions, including his continued wearing of the white cassock of the papacy.
Another point of contention has been that Benedict refuses to go back to his birth name, Joseph Ratzinger.
Critics say those decisions and his continued presence in the Vatican have confused Catholics and threaten the unity of the Church.
They say traditionalists have been able to use Benedict as a conservative reference point when they were unhappy with Francis’ decisions.
