Ex-Pope Benedict dies nine years after resignation

1. Pope Benedict XVI has died aged 95, the Vatican says
2. He succeeded John Paul II as Pope in 2005, but stepped down in 2013 citing his advanced age
3. He was the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, and the first German in the role for 1,000 years
4. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he headed the powerful doctrinal office in the Vatican for nearly 25 years prior to his papacy
5. A report this year found he failed to act over four child abuse cases as archbishop of Munich - he acknowledged errors, but denied wrongdoing
6. He spent the last nine years living quietly in the Vatican, but had been in fragile health for some time

Goodbye

Thank you for joining us as we bring our live coverage of the death of former Pope Benedict XVI to a close.

Today's writers were James FitzGerald and Phelan Chatterjee; the page was edited by Nathan Williams and Alexandra Fouché.

'He was a German Pope' - views from Munich

The late Pope was born in the German state of Bavaria and was appointed Archbishop of Munich in 1977.

In the southern German city, residents had mixed views on his tenure as pontiff.

"Pope Benedict... he was a relatively conservative pope. That's how I would describe him. But he was a German Pope. And that was nice to see from a German perspective," Thomas Keller tells Reuters news agency.

Reuters

One resident says she had hoped Benedict would put an end to the celibacy of priests:

"I thought when he came to power he would finally bring some fresh air into the Catholic Church and bring an end to celibacy. But unfortunately, he disappointed me," says Christa Herwig.

"I had hoped for that from him, because he made a very modern impression at the beginning. But unfortunately, nothing happened. But I still hope, for the sake of all the poor priests, that it will finally be abolished."

Another resident, Helmut Girg, says: "I have positive memories of him. I can still remember the time when he lived and filled the office. He represented the Church, the Catholic Church, and passed on what was expected of him."

Biden praises Benedict's 'devotion to the Church'

In a statement, Joe Biden - the second Catholic to serve as US president - says he and his wife mourned the passing of former Pope Benedict XVI, praising his "devotion to the Church".

I had the privilege of spending time with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in 2011 and will always remember his generosity and welcome as well as our meaningful conversation.

Joe BidenUS President

The late pope would "be remembered as a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith", his statement said.

Benedict was 'promoter of universal values' - Zelensky

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his "sincere condolences" over the death of former pope Benedict XVI.

He hailed the late pope as an "outstanding theologian, intellectual and promoter of universal values".

His comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin called Benedict a "defender of traditional Christian values".

Pope Francis pays tribute to his predecessor

AFP

Speaking at a New Year's Eve service in St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis thanked Benedict for "all the good he has done".

"With emotion we remember a person so noble, so kind," the current pontiff said of Benedict XVI, who died today aged 95.

Francis will be leading his predecessor's funeral service next Thursday.

Benedict to be buried in St Peter's Basilica tombs

We have more details about the arrangements for the late Pope's funeral and burial next week, as given by the Vatican.

Benedict will be buried in the papal tombs under St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican has said in a statement.

After the funeral mass for the late pope which will be held at 09:30 (08:30 GMT) on Thursday by Pope Francis, Benedict's coffin will be taken to St Peter's Basilica, and then into the Vatican Grottoes for burial, it added.

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Popes are buried beneath St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican - Pope Benedict XVI could be seen praying there before the tomb of Pope John Paul II in November 2005

End of 'Two Popes' era

Aleem Maqbool

Religion editor, BBC News

Reuters

With the death of Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic world has lost an unrivalled receptacle of theological knowledge, intellectualism and lived experience.

While little has changed in terms of doctrinal discussion at the Vatican in the nearly 10 years since he stepped down, what has changed is the spirit of the papacy.

Pope Francis is widely regarded to have had a more pastoral approach, and his appointments of cardinals show a clear shift towards Asia and Latin America.

In recent years, though he has not appeared to court it, the Pope Emeritus became something of a lightning rod for some opposed to the new Pope.

There had been speculation that Pope Francis, who himself has been suffering ill health, had been contemplating stepping down, but was reluctant to do so if it meant there would be three popes in Rome.

It was not quite The Two Popes, but in spite of their differences, there was by all accounts immense respect shown between predecessor and successor.

We are likely to hear about that in the coming days, and particularly in Pope Francis' homily at the funeral on Thursday.

King praises Benedict's efforts to bring Catholics and Anglicans closer

King Charles III has sent a message of condolence to Pope Francis, in which he praised the late Pope's efforts to strengthen ties between Catholics and Anglicans:

I remember with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my visit to the Vatican in 2009. His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom.

I also recall his constant efforts to promote peace and goodwill to all people, and to strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church."

Faithful gather in St Peter's Square after announcement

Bethany Bell

Reporting from Vatican City

Getty Images

Crowds of visitors and the faithful have gathered near the Vatican to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict.

On Monday, his body will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica. His funeral will take place in St Peter’s Square on Thursday, and Pope Francis will lead the service.

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The Vatican’s newspaper published this special front page to mark Benedict's death

'We are atheists but still respect Benedict'

Sofia Bettiza

Reporting from Vatican City

BBC

Siblings Eve and Rory are in Rome from the US to see where their dad Sean grew up.

Despite being atheists, they say they're "still very respectful" of the former Pope.

The family has been reflecting on how Catholics will react today, given Benedict had not led the church for the last nine years.

Eve says Benedict stepping down was a positive precedent - representing "how important personal choice is".

BBC

Retired nurse Jean Wise from Hertfordshire, north of London, believes it's the "end of an era".

Her Church friends in the UK had prayed for Benedict.

"It's a special moment to be in the Italian capital on this day."

She recalls the last papal death in 2005 and believes emotions might not be the same this time. "John Paul II had such a long reign, a bit like our own Queen. He was the only pope a lot of people had known."

Archbishop of Cardiff pays tribute

BBC

The leader of the Catholic Church in Wales, the Archbishop of Cardiff, said the former pope was "like a grandfather to us all".

The Most Reverend Mark O’Toole paid tribute to his service to the Church, describing him as "a great theologian, thinker and writer about faith".

"Many of us would be grateful for the clarity of his thought, but also a person of immense graciousness and gentleness in the work that he did," he said.

"We especially saw that when he became pope. We saw how he wanted to be a pastor, a good shepherd to all."

Asked how Catholics in Wales would be marking Benedict’s funeral on Thursday, the Archbishop said people would come together to celebrate his life.

"It's a moment to look back, but also to give thanks for this gentle man, this holy pastor, this humble servant of the Lord which is how he described himself," he added.

What was his life like before becoming Pope?

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Joseph Ratzinger was born into a traditional Bavarian farming family in 1927, although his father was a policeman.

He was the eighth German to become the Pope - able to speak many languages and with a fondness for music greats Mozart and Beethoven.

At the age of 14, he joined the Hitler Youth - as was required of all young Germans of the time. World War Two saw his studies at Traunstein seminary interrupted when he was drafted into an anti-aircraft unit in Munich.

He deserted the German army towards the end of the war and was briefly held as a prisoner of war by the Allies in 1945.

Benedict's conservative, traditionalist views were intensified by his experiences during the liberal 1960s.

He taught at the University of Bonn from 1959, and in 1966 took a chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tuebingen before moving to Regensburg University in 1969 in his native Bavaria.

Benedict then went on to become Regensburg's dean and vice-president. In 1977, he was named Cardinal of Munich by Pope Paul VI and, at the age of 78, Joseph Ratzinger was the oldest cardinal to become Pope since Clement XII was elected in 1730.

Pope Benedict admitted errors in handling of child abuse cases

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Pope Benedict’s papacy was marked by a scandal involving child sexual abuse by priests.

Two reports in 2009 detailed the extent of paedophilia and cover-ups within the Irish Church - and it later emerged that almost 400 priests had been defrocked(had their clerical status removed) by Benedict in 2011 and 2012.

Earlier this year, Benedict acknowledged that errors were made in the handling of sexual abuse cases while he was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.

In a letter released by the Vatican, the former pontiff asked for forgiveness for any"grievous fault" but denied personal wrongdoing.

A German report into the Catholic Church alleged that Pope Benedict, then called Joseph Ratzinger, failed to act over four child sex abuse cases.

The report by a German law firm alleged that abuse continued under his tenure, and that the priests accused of carrying out the abuse remained active in church roles.

In his first personal response to the report, Pope Benedict wrote: "I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate."

Read more here.

UN chief hails Benedict's 'commitment to non-violence'

António Guterres, head of the UN, offers his "deepest condolences" to Catholics and others who were inspired by Benedict's "life of prayer and tenacious commitment to non-violence and peace".

He also says the late former Pope's wish to close the widening gap between rich and poor was more relevant than ever.

AFP

'This is a very special moment'

Sofia Bettiza

Reporting from Vatican City

BBC

"This is a very special moment. I came here as soon as I heard the news."

Celine Socrates is a 31-year-old philosophy student from the Philippines.

"I was writing a chapter on immortality for my thesis when a friend messaged me about Benedict dying," she says.

She's come to a bustling St Peter’s Square holding a book about Jesus, written by the former Pope.

"He inspired me to seek the truth in my studies," she says. "I find his intellectual honesty a guiding principle in my life.

"I'm sad about his death, but I believe he is now in heaven."

BBC

Her friend Pauline Kibui is from Kenya, but moved to Rome in October. She's a Catholic, and has also come here to pay her respects.

"He was a gentle person, but he defended the faith with such strength."

Pauline says she prayed for Benedict’s soul when Pope Francis asked the faithful to do so a few days ago.

Asked about the unusual situation of there being two Popes in the Vatican for the last nine years, Pauline says Benedict had been a great support for the Church after he retired.

Pope Francis's 'special prayer' for his predecessor Benedict

Watch: Pope asks for prayers for ill predecessor

Days ago, Pope Francis asked pilgrims to “pray a special prayer” for his predecessor Benedict.

He made the request at the end of his final audience of the year in the Vatican's Paul VI hall.

The Vatican said the ex-Pope's health had worsened shortly before his death, and that he was being constantly monitored by doctors.

Pope Francis then went to visit his predecessor at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where Benedict had lived since stepping down.

Earlier this month Francis revealed he frequently visited his predecessor. He called him a saint and a man of high spiritual life while praising his good sense of humour.

Irish and Scottish Church leaders pay tribute

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland says he's saddened at the death of the former pope.

In a statement, Eamon Martin, the Archbishop of Armagh, hails the "humility and gentleness" of Benedict XVI when the two met in 2009.

He also recalls a letter that was later sent by the then pontiff to Catholics in Ireland "expressing profound sorrow" for those who'd been affected by sexual abuse in the Church.

Meanwhile, a leading figure in the Scottish Catholic Church has labelled Benedict a "Bavarian gentleman". Recalling a visit by the then-pope to Scotland in 2010, Archbishop Leo Cushley said Benedict was a "considerable and formidable theologian".

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What's been happening?

EPA

Tributes are being paid around the world to Benedict XVI, the former pope, who's died aged 95.

If you're just joining us, here's a look at the main developments of the last few hours:

• The pontiff died at 09:34 (08:34 GMT), according to a Vatican statement. A bell was heard ringing in St Peter's Square to announce the news
• The Vatican later said his body would lie in state from Monday, ahead of a funeral on Thursday
• Benedict has been described by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a "formative figure", by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a "great theologian", by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a "giant of faith and reason", and his "soul and intelligence" were praised by French President Emmanuel Macron
• Meanwhile, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described Benedict as "courageous and humble" for his decision to step down from papal duties. Other religious leaders in the UK have spoken of his personal qualities while recalling a papal visit in 2010
• The death of the former pontiff sparked renewed conversation over whether he had done enough to tackle child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The Church began to tackle the scandal during Benedict's tenure
• The death of the pope emeritus appeared to put the Vatican in uncharted territory. Benedict's decision to step down in 2013 made him the first pontiff to resign in 600 years

'It feels surreal - what will happen now?'

Bethany Bell

Reporting from Vatican City

EPA

Reporters have been gathering in St Peter's Square

I was walking through St Peter’s Square when the news broke of Benedict's death.

Church bells tolled across the Vatican. It is a sunny day, and the square was already full of tourists, who are here for the new year’s holiday.

Barbara Bernadas, a tourist from Barcelona, said she and her boyfriend were filled with a sense of bewilderment when they heard the news.

“We learned of his death just as we were in St Peter's Square. We felt [as if we were] at the centre of the world," she said.

"A tourist guide was just telling us where Benedict lived. It feels surreal. What will happen now?

"There are no protocols to follow. Certainly, it is an unprecedented historical moment.”

Annamaria, 65, and Patrizia, 64 - who are visiting Rome for a few days from the northern Italian city of Bologna - told us they rushed to St Peter’s Square to pray for the pope emeritus.

“As soon as we found out that Benedict had died we came here to pray. He was a great pontiff, certainly very different from Francis," Annamaria said. "He was a great intellectual and scholar. Like the rest of the Church, we will always remember him.”

The Pope who resigned from the papacy

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Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger with Pope John Paul II, who he went on to succeed in 2005

Benedict XVI was already 78 when he became Pope in 2005. Age and ill health quickly took their toll, prompting his resignation less than eight years later.

No other pope had stepped down since Gregory XII in 1415 and Benedict was the first to do so voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294.

When he became the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, it was the culmination of the rapid, and highly controversial, rise of Joseph Ratzinger.

Supporters portrayed him as a highly intellectual man who laboured to protect the spiritual inheritance bequeathed to him by Pope John Paul II.

To his critics, he was the ultimate exponent and guardian of the Church's dogmatic approach to issues like abortion and contraception. The outrage he sometimes caused seemed typical of a man who was never afraid of upsetting people - if he believed something had to be said or done.

• Read more: Obituary of Benedict XVI