Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, the Vatican confirmed on Saturday.
The Holy See Press Office announced the passing of the Pope Emeritus 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,” Director Matteo Bruni said in the brief statement.
The body of Benedict XVI will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican starting Monday.
His funeral, which will be presided over by Pope Francis, will take place Thursday in St. Peter’s Square.
The health condition of the former Pope had reportedly worsened over the past few days.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis took to Twitter asking people to pray for Benedict XVI, who was “supporting the Church in silence.”
“Let us ask the Lord to console him and to sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end,” said the tweet.
Benedict XVI was elected as the 265th Pope in April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II.
He resigned unexpectedly in February 2013 due to his advanced age, becoming the first Pope in nearly 600 years to step down.
Following the announcement of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday at the age of 95, we look back at his long life and its main highlights with the following official biography.https://t.co/giTasd5kHB
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) December 31, 2022
