Pope Benedict XVI dies at Age 95 - Vatican News 2022

The Roman Catholic former Pope Benedict XVI has died aged 95. He succeeded John Paul II as Pope in 2005, but stepped down in 2013 citing his advanced age.

The former Pope died 31 December, 2022, the eve to the New Year of 2023.

He was the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, and the first German in the role for 1,000 years. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he headed the powerful doctrinal office in the Vatican for nearly 25 years prior to his papacy.

A report this year found he failed to act over four child abuse cases as archbishop of Munich - he acknowledged errors, but denied wrongdoing.

He spent the last nine years living quietly in the Vatican, but had been in fragile health for some time. 

Pope Francis has send his condolences to all Catholic faithful over the demise of Pope Benedict the XVI of the Catholic Church in Vatican city, Rome.

Life and Time of Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI whose full name is Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, German was on 16 April 1927 and died on 31 December 2022. 

He was the head of Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. 

Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Benedict chose to be known by the title "pope emeritus" upon his resignation.

He was baptised the same day. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph Ratzinger Sr., a police officer, and Maria; his grand-uncle was the German priest-politician Georg Ratzinger. 

His mother's family was originally from South Tyrol (now in Italy). Benedict's elder brother, Georg Ratzinger, was a Catholic priest and was the former director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir. His sister, Maria Ratzinger, who never married, managed her brother Joseph's household until her death in 1991.

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