Former Pope Benedict XVI dies aged 95
The 95-year-old, known as Pope Emeritus since his resignation in 2013, passed away at his residence in the Vatican.
Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his residence in the Vatican at the age of 95. It had been nearly 10 years since he became the first Pope in six centuries to resign from the post, doing so owing to health issues.
Benedict was the head of the Catholic Church for just eight years, spanning from 2005 to 2023, and he spent his final years at the Master Ecclesiae monastery. He became known as the Pope Emeritus after stepping down and maintained regular contact with his successor, Pope Francis.
A statement from the Vatican read: “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.”
Benedict, born in Germany, became one of the oldest pope ever elected in 2005 at the age of 78. He became increasingly frail in recent years and reports from the Vatican on Friday suggested that his condition was “worsening in the last hours”.