Image via @VaticanNews Twitter
The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who served as the leader of the Catholic Church until his resignation in 2013, has passed away.
The information was released by the Vatican on Saturday morning in a brief statement. At 9:34 a.m., Benedict passed away at his home in the Vatican.
“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.Further information will be provided as soon as possible,” the Director of the Holy See press office Matteo Bruni stated.
The information was released a few days after Pope Francis indicated that Benedict was “very sick” on Wednesday, December 28, at the Vatican.
Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, at 78, was elected the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church after Pope John Paul II passed away in 2005. The name Benedict XVI was chosen by Ratzinger, who was born in Germany. Benedict resigned as pope, becoming the first leader of the Catholic Church to do so in 600 years after over eight years in office.
On Feb. 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced the news of his resignation, saying, “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”
According to CNN, Benedict’s funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. local time.