Benedict XVI died at the age of 95, the Pope who shook the world with his resignation

The expad Benedict XVI, a German theologian who shocked the world by resigning his pontificate in 2013, died on Saturday at the age of 95, the Vatican announced. “It is with regret that I announce that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died today at 9:34 a.m., in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery of the Vatican,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See’s press service, said in a statement.

The Vatican also announced that The body of the emeritus pontiff will be exposed from Monday in the Basilica of San Pedro to be venerated by believers.

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Shortly before 11:00 local time (10:00 GMT), the bells of the basilica rang for the death of the expapadewhile hundreds of people came to the square to remember the figure of Joseph Ratzingera refined ultra-conservative theologian, who chose the name Benedict XVI after being appointed head of the Catholic Church in 2005.

His health had deteriorated in recent days.although the Vatican indicated on Friday that he was in “stable” condition and that he had participated in the mass celebrated in his room in the Vatican monastery on Thursday.

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leaves after Mass on Ash Wednesday, inaugurating Lent, February 13, 2013 at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. (AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS).

The 265th Pope’s funeral in history must be celebrated by his successor Francis, an unprecedented event in the two thousand years of Church history.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend, including heads of state and leaders of other religions.

End of the coexistence of “two popes”

His death puts an end to the unusual coexistence of two Popesboth in white cassock: the German Ratzinger, a brilliant ultra-conservative theologian and not very popular with the crowds, and the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio, a Jesuit who has wanted a papacy dedicated to the poor and migrants.

On Wednesday, during the general audience, Francis asked to pray for the health of his predecessor, who was “very ill” and whom he went to visit in his room.

Ratzinger, the first German Pope of the modern era, replaced the charismatic John Paul II in 2005, who had been his right hand for a quarter of a century as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the former Holy Office of the Inquisition.

This photo released on April 27, 2014 by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis (right) meeting with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. (AFP).

His eight-year pontificate was marked by scandals and intrigues within the Church.

After resigning, Benedict XVI promised to maintain an absolute retirement, without shadowing his successor, the Pope Francisco.

But he found himself involved – in some cases, involuntarily, according to observers – in the campaigns of the ultra-conservative sectors that see with bad eyes the openings of the Argentine pontiff in the social field.

And at the beginning of 2022, He was plagued by accusations that he covered up four cases of pedophilia when he was Archbishop of Munich, between 1977 and 1981.

Faced with the pressure of the German report that accused him of negligence in handling these cases of pedophilia, He broke his silence to ask for “pardon” and express his “deep” shame.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on December 25, 2012. (AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO).

“Soon I will face the ultimate judge of my life. Although looking back on my long life I may have many reasons for fear and fear, I have a joyful frame of mind because I firmly trust that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who has already suffered my shortcomings and He is, therefore, as a judge, at the same time my lawyer. he claimed.

According to religious sources, the emeritus pope left a will, in which he probably determined the arrangements for his funeral as well as the place of his burial.

The German head of government, Olaf Scholz, affirmed that with the disappearance of Benedict XVI, the world loses “a notable figure”, who was characterized by his “combatant personality”.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ratzinger had worked “for a more fraternal world” and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared himself “saddened” by the death of a “great theologian”.

Source: Elcomercio