The Vatican has confirmed that beloved former Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away. Pope Benedict took his last breath at the age of 95 on Saturday morning at 09:34 AM.
Earlier this week, Pope Francis requested the people globally to pray for Pope Benedict as he was in a critical situation.
The updates were about his stable health conditions, but the time flipped and took him to his new home in the feet of the almighty.
Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the small town of Marktl am Inn, Germany.
Pope Benedict was ordained as a priest in 1951 and later served as a professor of theology at several universities. In 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, and he was later made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1981.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected as the pope on April 19, 2005, following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Pope Benedict was the oldest person to be elected pope in almost 300 years and the first pope from Germany in over 1,000 years.
During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI faced several challenges and controversies, including the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church and his handling of it.
In addition to his efforts to reach out to other religions, Pope Benedict XVI also worked to improve relations within the Catholic Church.
He reached out to traditionalist Catholics who had been estranged from the Church, and he made efforts to improve relations with the Society of St. Pius X, a group of traditionalist Catholics who had been excommunicated.
Despite these challenges, Pope Benedict XVI was known for his strong commitment to traditional Catholic teachings and his efforts to reach out to other religions.
Pope Benedict XVI faced significant criticism and controversy for his handling of the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. During his papacy, the Church was plagued by allegations of sexual abuse by priests, and many accused Pope Benedict of not doing enough to address the issue.
In 2010, Pope Benedict issued a letter apologizing for the Church’s failure to properly address the issue of sexual abuse and promising to take action to prevent future abuse.
He later met with victims of sexual abuse and acknowledged that the Church had failed to protect them. He made several trips to other countries and met with leaders of other faiths, including Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism.
In February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would be resigning as pope, citing his advanced age and declining health.
He was the first pope to resign in over 600 years, and his resignation took effect on February 28, 2013.
After his resignation, Pope Benedict XVI retired to the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where he lived until his death on Saturday.
He will be remembered as a devoted servant of the Catholic Church and a leader who faced numerous challenges with courage and grace.
