Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Ratzinger, made headlines in 2013 when he announced his unexpected resignation as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, citing his advanced age as the reason for stepping down.
This marked the first time in nearly 600 years that a pope had resigned from his position, with the last pope to do so being Gregory XII, who ended a civil war within the Church by quitting in 1415. Pope Benedict’s decision to resign was a historic event that surprised the world and sent shockwaves through the Catholic community.
On Friday, the Vatican announced the sad news that Pope Benedict XVI had passed away at the age of 95. In a tweet, Vatican News stated that Benedict had died at 9:34 a.m. in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.
It is reported that Pope Francis had previously asked for prayers for the former pope, who had been “very sick.” Pope Francis offered his condolences and prayers for Pope Benedict, saying, “We ask the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church to the very end.”
The passing of Pope Benedict XVI marks the end of an era for the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict was a beloved leader and highly respected theologian who served as the head of the Church for eight years. He will be greatly missed by Catholics around the world.
