Former Pope Benedict XVI is believed to have died at the age of 95, more than a decade after stepping down as head of the Catholic Church due to “advanced age” and ill health. The Vatican issued an official statement announcing his death:
“It is with regret that I inform you that the Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 am at the Mater Ecclesiae convent in the Vatican. More information will be available shortly.”
The Vatican also said Pope Benedict’s body will be laid to rest in St. Peter’s Basilica to “welcome the faithful” starting January 2, 2023. The supreme pope is said to have passed. spent the last years of his life at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae convent, and his successor, Pope Francis, made numerous visits. Before Benedict’s death, Pope Francis revealed that his predecessor was “very ill” and asked for prayers during a public audience at the Vatican on Wednesday:
“I would like to ask all of you a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who keeps the Church quiet. He is seriously ill. .”
“Accept nothing less than Truth and Love, accept nothing less than Christ.”
Thank you, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for pointing us to Christ. May the angels take you to heaven. https://t.co/EfcFhOaiSU
— Ap. José H. Gomez (@ArchbishopGomez) December 31, 2022
Meanwhile, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Benedict’s health had “deteriorated” “due to the passage of time”. According to Reuters, one of the last photographs of Benedict was taken on December 1 when he met with the theological laureates that bear his name. During the ceremony, he is said to remain seated and appear weak. According to the newspaper, people who saw Benedict during his dying days said that his mind was very intelligent despite his frail body. Pope Benedict presided over the Catholic Church for nearly eight years until he resigned in 2013. He was the first pope since Gregory XII. 1415 people have resigned.
Pope Benedict resigns
Before being elected pope on April 19, 2005, Benedict XVI was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican’s catechetical office, then the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). He replaced the beloved Pope John Paul II as the first German pope in 1,000 years. Many issues have plagued his reign, notably the 2012 “Vatileaks” affair, allegations of abuse against certain priests and Benedict’s apparent inaction on the matter.
Despite the controversy, Pope Benedict established himself as a strong voice of the Catholic Church and served as pope for eight years. However, he shocked the Catholic Church when he resigned on February 11, 2013, at the age of 85. The pope later cited the reason for his retirement as “old age” and stated that he no longer has the stamina to lead the world’s estimated 1.2 billion Catholics:
“I have to admit that I am not capable of fulfilling the assigned mission.”
Benedict was made pope emeritus and promised to “hide from the public eye” while he focused on private prayer. After his retirement, he is said to have spent his time reading, playing the piano, writing letters and essays, and entertaining people in his monastery. At the time of his resignation, Pope Benedict’s communications secretary, Father Federico Lombardi, stated that the church needed a leader with greater physical and mental vitality to meet the challenges:
“The church needs someone with more physical and mental vitality to tackle the problems and challenges of church governance in this modern, ever-changing world.”
Benedict became the first Pope in 600 years to resign, following the resignation of Gregory XII. 1415. On February 28, 2013, he officially resigned as head of the Catholic Church.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn