In February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign and now, after Pope Francis warned that he was gravely ill, he has passed away.
Pope Benedict XVI died at the age of 95. He was the first pope in 600 years to quit his job as pontiff, which he did in February 2013. He spent the last days of his life in a convent at the Vatican.
This week, Pope Francis said, “I’d like to ask all of you to say a special prayer for Emeritus Pope Benedict, who is quietly keeping the church going. I want to remind you that he is very sick.
“Let’s ask the Lord to comfort him and keep him going until the end in this love testimony to the church.”
"I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who in silence is supporting the Church. Remember him – he is very ill – asking the Lord to console him, and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end."#PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/olWyYugUaU
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) December 28, 2022
Who Is The Pope?
Francis, who used to be known as Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became Pope of the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Benedict stepped down in March 2013.
Catholica says that Pope Francis is the 266th Pope in the history of the Catholic Church. However, in some ways, he is the first Pope. For example, he is the first Pope from the Americas, the first from outside Europe in 1272 years, and the first to be named Francis (which originates from Saint Francis of Assisi).
Why Did Pope Benedict Resign?
On April 19, 2005, Pope Benedict was chosen to take over from Pope John Paul II, who had been in charge for 27 years and was known all over the world. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict, was in the order of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for 25 years (their doctrinal office).
He was called a “theological conservative,” and his eight years as pope were full of controversies that hurt his public image. For example, there were rumors that he insulted Islam by saying that it was inherently violent. The BBC says that Pope Benedict’s reason for stepping down was that his “advanced age” made it hard for him to do his job well.
Others, though, say that his resignation was caused by scandals like the “Vatileaks” in 2012, which were a series of leaked Vatican documents that showed corruption within the organization. He resigned the next year.
When Did Pope Benedict Die?
During his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis asked people to pray for his predecessor Benedict, who is 95 years old. He said Benedict was “very sick.”
The Vatican then said that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had died on the morning of December 31, 2022.
Matteo Bruni, who is a spokesman for the Vatican, said in a statement: “Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery in the Vatican. I’m sorry to say this. As soon as possible, more information will be made public.”
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