Pope Benedict made an unannounced visit yesterday to Rome's Gemelli hospital to see his 81-year-old brother, who is recovering from heart surgery.

"He is well," Pope Benedict told reporters after spending about 30 minutes at the bedside of Georg Ratzinger.

Fr Ratzinger had been staying with Pope Benedict at the Pope's summer residence earlier this week when he suffered heart problems. He was whisked to Gemelli on Wednesday evening and fitted with a pacemaker.

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