Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies at age 95
ROME (AA) – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died at his Vatican residence on Saturday at age 95, the Vatican press office announced.
The former pontiff died at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery at 9.34 a.m, the Vatican said, adding that his body will be exposed in Saint Peter’s Basilica on January 2 “so the (Catholic) faithful can bid farewell.”
Pope Benedict’s health had worsened in the past few days due to his advancing age.
Pope Francis himself publicly shared the news about his predecessor’s worsening health at the end of his last General Audience of the year on Wednesday.
In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI made an almost unprecedented decision to resign from his position, citing his advanced age.
Benedict was the first pope who decided to step down in nearly 600 years. In 2020, the Vatican said he had suffered from a “painful but not serious condition” following reports in German media that he was sick.
Earlier this year, a number of scandals related to the covering up of evidence for sexual misconduct among the clergy had been brought to light, implicating Pope Benedict.
The Pope is considered to be the highest religious authority on earth in the Catholic sect of Christianity.
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