Pope Benedict longing for death – pens heartbreaking letter 'hoping to join afterlife'

His former professor colleague, the religious priest Dr. Gerhard Winkler, died at the end of September.

But in a letter of condolence, the retired Pope said how he hoped to join the afterlife “soon”.

An excerpt from the letter reads: “Now he has reached the afterlife, where many friends are certainly waiting for him.

“I hope that I can join them soon.”