Former Pope Benedict has reportedly passed away at age 95 on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican where he had lived since his resignation in 2013 which made him the first pontiff in 600 years to step down.
In a news article by CGTN, a Vatican spokesperson who declared the death of the pontiff in a written statement made the following remark:
“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican”.
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The Vatican was also reported to have said “his body will lie in state from Monday in St. Peter’s Basilica for the greeting of the faithful.”
Earlier in the week, Pope Francis who took over from Benedict had announced the ill-health status of his predecessor and asked for people to pray for him. The CGTN article reads as follow:
“Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, Benedict was 78 when he became one of the oldest popes ever elected in 2005. He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
“For nearly 25 years, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict was the powerful head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, then known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).
“Conservatives in the Church have looked to the former pope as their standard bearer and some ultra-traditionalists even refused to acknowledge Francis as a legitimate pontiff” .
According to Britannica, the funeral of the former pope will be held January 5, 2023 and presided over by his successor, Pope Francis.
Since the announcement of the death of the former pope, state leaders across Europe and in other parts of the world have been sending their tributes and condolences:
“Benedict XVI was a giant of faith and reason. A man in love with the Lord who put his life at the service of the Universal Church and has spoken, and will continue to speak, to the hearts and minds of people with the spiritual, cultural and intellectual depth of his Magisterium. A Christian, a pastor, a theologian: a great man whom history will not forget” Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime minister.
“My thoughts go out to Catholics in France and around the world, bereaved by the departure of His Holiness Benedict XVI, who worked with all his soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world” French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I am saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He was a great theologian whose UK visit in 2010 was an historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country. My thoughts are with Catholic people in the UK and around the world today” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.