The Vatican has been forced to deny that former Pope Benedict XVI is close to death after rumours about his ill health were circulated on social media

The reports claimed the former pontiff's personal secretary, Georg Ganswein, had said described the former leader of the Catholic Church as "like a candle that fades slowly".

The Archbishop was also alleged to have said: "He is serene, at peace with God, with himself and the world. He can no longer walk without help and can no longer celebrate Mass. Please pray for our beloved Pope Benedict 16th."

However, Father Ganstein said the report was “pure invention” in a statement to the Catholic News Agency.

“I have received in the last two days many messages that refer to this note, and people are worried”, he said. “It is false and wrong”.

The quotation which has been circulated was actually taken from a 2016 interview with Mr Ganstein, published in Italian magazine BenEssere.

Pope Benedict, born Josef Ratzinger, became the first Pope in almost six hundred years to resign his post when he stepped down in 2013.

At the time of his resignation, the Pope said he felt a duty to resign because of his declining health.

Since stepping down he has continued to live in a former convent within the Vatican as a pope Emeritus, spending his time praying, reading or writing.