Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence at the age of 95 after a period of ill health.
The Vatican disclosed this on Saturday in a statement by the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.
TheFact Daily recalled that Pope Francis had on Wednesday asked the faithfuls to pray for Benedict saying, he was “very sick.”
“I want to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who sustains the Church in his silence. He is very sick. We ask the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church to the very end,” he said.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born at Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany) on 16 April 1927 (Holy Saturday) and was baptised on the same day.
He was elected on 19 April 2005 as the 265th Pope.
On 11 February 2013, Pope Emeritus announced his decision to resign from the Petrine ministry.His pontificate came to an end on 28 February 2013.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lived within the Vatican in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery until his death.
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.”
The Vatican said the body of the Pope Emeritus will be placed in St Peter’s Basilica from 2 January for “the greeting of the faithful”.
Plans for Pope Benedict’s funeral will be announced in the next few hours, the Vatican said.
The Vatican said the body of the Pope Emeritus will be placed in St Peter’s Basilica from 2 January for “the greeting of the faithful”.
Plans for Pope Benedict’s funeral will be announced in the next few hours, the Vatican said.
