Former head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95.
The Holy See Press Office announced the death of the emeritus Pope in a statement on Saturday.
The statement read; “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.
ALSO READ: No PVC, no church: Catholic Priest stops worshipers without voters card from entering church
Further information will be provided as soon as possible.”
The late Pope was elected the 265th Pope on 19 April 2005 in the papal conclave following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on 16 April 1927 in Marktl, Germany, he became was the oldest person to be elected Pope since 1730.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned his role, renouncing “the ministry of Bishop of Rome” in February 2013.
He lived at the Vatican in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery until his death until his death on Saturday, December 31, 2023.
