A Vatican spokesperson announced the death this morning.
The current pope Francis asked last Wednesday to pray for the then seriously ill Benedict. His health was rapidly deteriorating at this time and he was under constant supervision by doctors.
The Pope who abdicated
Benedict is the first pope in six centuries not to remain in office until his death. In 2013, he shocked the Catholic world by stepping down from office. In his own words, he did so at the request of God. His powers were already diminishing at that time, due to his advanced age. He was then 86 years old and might no longer cope with the heavy work as pope.
The born German gave his life to faith. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he was for many years the right-hand man of his predecessor John Paul II. After the death of this very popular pope, he was chosen as successor. He was considered a conservative theologian who was strict in doctrine.
Abuse scandal
During his tenure, the Catholic Church came under heavy fire several times over scandals involving clergy sexual abuse. The church hushed this up. As pope, he would have done too little to punish the perpetrators and covered up the misconduct. At the beginning of this year, he asked abuse victims for forgiveness, although he insisted that he did not cover up any abuses.
After his resignation in February 2013, he retired to the Vatican. He was rarely seen in public anymore. Yet he kept an important role in the background, including as an adviser to the new Pope Francis. Despite his promise not to interfere with his policies, Benedict wrote a book in 2020 regarding the sexual abuse scandal. In it he urged the church not to challenge celibacy, the conscious choice to remain unmarried for priests.
Funeral
Benedict’s funeral has not yet been announced. His biographer Peter Seewald said two years ago that the pope emeritus wants to be buried following his death in the former tomb of John Paul II, in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. John Paul was moved to a side chapel in the basilica following he was beatified.
