Farewell to Pontiff: Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95

“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,” the Holy See Press Office announced today. 

Former pontiff Benedict XVI, who became the first Pope to resign in 600 years, passed away today in a quiet Vatican monastery, where he had resided since resigning in 2013.

Benedict XVI was the first German pope in nearly 1,000 years. He ruled as the head of the Catholic church from 2005 until stepping down in 2013, saying he no longer had the physical or mental strength to continue with his duties.

Benedict XVI advocated to return the Catholic church to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularization of many Western Countries during his reign.

In his writings, the pontiff claimed the central problem of the 21st century was relativism, which denies moral and objective truths.

Benedict’s legacy has been clouded lately though by prosecutors in Germany accusing the former pontiff of having failed to prevent abuse by clerics when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising between 1977 and 1982.

Benedict has insisted that he was unaware of the transgressions committed by the clergy in Munich but issued a “heartfelt request for forgiveness” over any errors he’d made in failing to prevent the heinous acts.

His death comes shortly after Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for Benedict XVI during a public address earlier this week, stating the ex-pontiff was “very sick.”

The ex-pontiff’s health had recently turned for the worst due to his age, according to Vatican officials.

Few weeks ago, those who had seen Benedict said his body looked frail but noted that his mind was still sharp, according to media reports.

“Let us remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end,” Francis said in his address.

According to Vatican officials, Benedict’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica until his funeral on Thursday, January 5.

Pope Francis will conduct the mournful ceremony in the square in front of the basilica.