Pope Benedict XVI, who was the first pope in over 600 years to resign from office, has passed away at the age of 95.
His successor, Pope Francis, had asked Catholics to pray for him during his general audience on Wednesday morning, as Benedict’s health had been deteriorating due to his age.
Doctors were constantly monitoring his condition at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City, where Benedict had lived since his resignation in 2013.
In recent years, he had become increasingly frail, dedicating his post-papacy life to prayer and meditation. Prior to Benedict, popes traditionally served as the head of the Catholic Church until their death.
Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained as a priest in 1951 and served in various roles within the Catholic Church, including as a professor and as the archbishop of Munich and Freising. In 1981, he was appointed as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a role in which he oversaw the Church’s teachings and doctrine. In 2005, he was elected as pope following the death of Pope John Paul II, becoming the first pope from Germany in nearly 1,000 years.
As pope, Benedict XVI focused on reaffirming traditional Catholic teachings and values, particularly in regards to issues such as contraception, abortion, and same-sex marriage. He also worked to improve relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, and made efforts to reach out to other religions. However, his papacy was also marked by controversy, including the ongoing sexual abuse scandal within the Church and his handling of the issue.
Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign as pope in February 2013, citing his advanced age and declining health as reasons for stepping down. He became Pope Emeritus and retired to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City, where he lived quietly until his death. Pope Francis, who had previously served as the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected as his successor in March 2013.
