Former Catholic Church leader, Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95
The former Catholic church leader, born Joseph Ratzinger, succeeded the late Pope John Paul II in 2005. He abdicated the papacy in 2013, having led the Catholic Church for less than eight years, due to ill health.
After Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415, he became the second Pope to resign.
Benedict died on Saturday, December 31, 2022, according to a Holy See spokesman.
They stated: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9.34am in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.”
Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the Vatican walls, where he died on Saturday at 09:34 (08:34 GMT).
His successor, Pope Francis, will officiate at his funeral on January 5.
The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be placed in St Peter’s Basilica on January 2 for “the greeting of the faithful,” according to the Vatican.
After the former Pope’s death was announced, bells rang out from Munich Cathedral, and a single bell rang out from St Peter’s Square in Rome.
