On Saturday, the 31st of December 2022, former Pope Benedict XVI passed away, as confirmed by the Vatican.
«With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 09:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican,» as reported by the director of the press office of the Vatican’s Holy Seat Matteo Bruni. He later told journalists that the funeral is scheduled for Thursday, the 5th of January. He also said the funeral ceremony will be headed by Pope Francis. Residents and visitors to the Vatican will be able to pay their respects to the former pope at the St. Peter’s Basilica this week.
Born in 1927 in Bavaria, Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope on the 19th of April 2005, replacing John Paul II on the Holy Seat. After he became Pope, he picked the name Benedict to honour the Benedict of Nursia, who founded Europe’s first monk order in the 5th century. Benedict XVI was the first German to become Pope in the last 480 years.
Eight years later, on the 28th of February 2013, he became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to have stepped down from his seat in the last 600 years. The last such precedent occurred in the year 1415. He explained his decision with failing health, which made it difficult to uphold his duties.
Later Benedic commented that he compared his election as the head of the Roman Catholic Church to «guillotining».
Archbishop of Brasil Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who later picked the name Francis, was elected as his successor.
Since leaving his post, Benedict XVI lived in conditional isolation at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. News of his health rapidly deteriorating was reported on Wednesday, the 28th of December, when Pope Francis reported that his predecessor is «very ill». The Vatican was very light on details. The official report mostly reported that the sudden worsening of Benedict XVI health was due to his old age.
Before he became Pope, he worked in the Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Vatican, and due to his conservative views, Benedict XVI was often called «God’s Rottweiler». He maintained his predecessor, Pope John Paul II’s conservative course and opposed the modernisation of Catholic Church’s opinion in regards to topics like birth control, abortion and clerical celibacy.
This caused a backlash, especially in Europe and his home country of Germany. His term as Pope was also persecuted by many scandals about sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, which caused a deep global crisis for the Catholic Church.
Even after he stepped down as Pope, Benedict XVI continued voicing opinions about important matters. He gave interviews, published articles and books. In 2020 he objected to the abolishment of celibacy. A year later he said the sexual abuse of children was caused by the sexual revolution of the 60s and the west’s failing faith.
Despite society’s generally controversial opinion towards Benedict, the world’s leaders continued expressing their appreciation for the former Pope. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Benedict was «a formal figure in the Catholic Church» and «a wise theologian». Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni said he was «a giant of faith and intellect» and «a great historical figure».
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