Former Pope Benedict XVI has died aged 95.
The Vatican said in a statement: “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.
“Further information will be provided as soon as possible.”
“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.
Further information will be provided as soon as possible.” pic.twitter.com/O5dxoPaVkT
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) December 31, 2022
Born Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict was 78 when in 2005 he became one of the oldest popes ever elected.
The German native led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
On Wednesday, his successor Pope Francis asked his final audience of the year at the Vatican to “pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict” – whom he said was very ill.
BREAKING: Former pope Benedict XVI, who became the first pontiff to resign in some 600 years, has died aged 95.
More here: https://t.co/o6hU8HyuuL
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— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 31, 2022
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