FORMER Pope Benedict XVI has died, aged, 95, in Vatican City.
He led the Catholic Church for fewer than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
Pope Benedict XVI is deemed by most as a traditional, conservative leader and theologian.
He announced his resignation at 85, claiming his age left him unable to lead the Catholic church well. While some find this piece of history appalling, even tainting, others defend Pope Benedict XVI’s leadership following his death, recalling his staunch pro-life views and willingness to share mass in the traditional tongue:
Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican where he passed away at 09:34 (08:34 GMT) on Saturday.
His successor Pope Francis will lead the funeral on 5 January.
The Vatican said the body of the Pope Emeritus will be placed in St Peter’s Basilica from 2 January for “the greeting of the faithful”.
Bells rang out from Munich cathedral and a single bell was heard ringing from St Peter’s Square in Rome after the death was announced.
Pope Francis called him a gift to the church, describing him as a noble and kind man.
At a New Year’s Eve service at the Vatican he paid tribute to his “dearest” predecessor, emphasising “his sacrifices offered for the good of the church”.
