Pope Benedict VXI has died.
The former head of the Catholic Church – who became the first pontiff to resign in 600 years when he stepped down in February 2013 after almost eight years in his position – passed away on Saturday (31.12.22) morning at the age of 95.
A Vatican spokesperson said: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.”
The body of the former pope – who was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger – will lie in state in St Peter’ Basilica from Monday (02.01.23) before his funeral mass takes place in St Peter’s Square on Thursday (05.01.23).
The representative added: “As of Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter’s Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell.”
Pope Francis will preside over the funeral service, an unprecedented event to have the current pontiff celebrate the life of his predecessor.
The news comes after the current pope asked for prayers for Benedict during his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday (28.12.22).
At the end of his address, Pope Francis said: “I would like to ask all of you to pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict … To remember him, because he is very ill, asking the Lord to console and support him.”
The former pope’s health had undergone a “worsening in the last hours” due to his age and doctors had been constantly monitoring his condition.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, hailed the late pope as “one of the great theologians of the 20th century”.
