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By Stephen Diener |

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Passes Away at 95

Germany Obit Benedict XVI
A person sits next to a portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the baptistery of Benedict in Marktl, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the German theologian who will be remembered as the first pope in 600 years to resign, has died, the Vatican announced Saturday. He was 95. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)

Pope Benedict the XVI, who was given the title “Emeritus” after he resigned the seat of Pontiff back in 2013, passed away last night at a Vatican Monastery. He was 95 years old.

On April 18, 2005, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, took over the mantle of Pope after the passing of Pope John Paul II. He became Pope Benedict XVI and reigned until his historic resignation in February of 2013. He shocked the Catholic church and the world alike when he became the first pope to resign in almost 600 years.

After that, Pope Francis took over and will now be celebrating his 10th anniversary as pope this upcoming year.

Benedict was the 264th Pope in the line of Pope’s since St. Peter. No cause has been given to his death other than “illness due to advanced age.” Pope Francs put out this statement a few days ago as word started to spread that his predecessor’s health was beginning to decline.

And it is now being reported that Pope Francis will preside over the funeral this upcoming week.