Latest
BENEDICT THE GREAT
Former Pope Benedict XVI dies aged 95 nine years after stepping down as Catholic Church leader
MILLIONS are mourning tonight after former Pope Benedict XVI — the first pontiff to resign in 600 years — died aged 95.
The noted religious thinker led the Roman Catholic church from 2005 until 2013 before surprisingly standing down because of poor health.
10
10
10
10
When Pope Francis officiates at his funeral, it will be the first time in the church’s 2,000-year history that a pope has buried his predecessor.
King Charles led the tributes today, recalling “with fondness” their meeting at the Vatican in 2009 and Pope Benedict’s visit to the UK the following year — only the second papal trip here.
Charles wrote in a letter to Pope Francis: “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.”
More world news
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, hailed German-born Pope Benedict as “one of the great theologians of the 20th century”.
And he praised his UK trip, during which he met the Queen at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and made a speech at Westminster Hall.
Cardinal Nichols said in a statement: “We saw his courtesy, his gentleness, the perceptiveness of his mind and the openness of his welcome to everybody that he met.
“He was through and through a gentleman, through and through a scholar, through and through a pastor, through and through a man of God — close to the Lord and always his humble servant.
Most read in The Sun
“He will be remembered as one of the great theologians of the 20th century.”
Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby agreed Pope Benedict was “one of the greatest theologians of his age”.
He said in a statement he was “committed to the faith of the Church and stalwart in its defence”.
And he added: “In all things, not least in his writing and his preaching, he looked to Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God.
10
10
10
“It was abundantly clear that Christ was the root of his thought and the basis of his prayer.
“In 2013 Pope Benedict took the courageous and humble step to resign the papacy, the first Pope to do so since the 15th century.
“In making this choice freely he acknowledged the human frailty that affects us all.
“In his retirement in Rome he has led a life of prayer and now he has gone to the eternal rest granted by the Father.”
PM Rishi Sunak tweeted: “I am saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
“He was a great theologian whose UK visit in 2010 was a historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “His state visit in 2010 was a historic and joyous moment for Catholics in Britain.”
The Vatican announced the death in a morning statement saying: “Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9.34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.”
He will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica from Monday, with his funeral on Thursday.
In 2005, four million people went to Rome for the funeral of Benedict’s predecessor Pope John Paul II and an estimated one million filed past while he was lying in state.
Pope Francis said during New Year’s Eve vespers of thanksgiving in St Peter’s Basilica: “It is with emotion that we remember his person, so noble, so kind. And we feel in our heart such gratitude — gratitude to God for having gifted him to the Church and the world.”
Born in Bavaria in 1927, Joseph Ratzinger was elected as 265th pope on April 19 2005 and chose the name Benedict.
Aged 78, he was the oldest to be elected since Pope Clement XII in 1730.
Pope Benedict was ordained in 1951 in Munich and made a Cardinal in 1977.
As a Cardinal he was responsible for enforcing doctrinal purity and was given the nickname God’s Rottweiler for his uncompromising views.
As Pope he was known for his conservatism and repeatedly stressed family values — opposing abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage.
But he was criticised for turning a blind eye to the sex abuse scandals which rocked the Vatican.
And his 2009 visit to Africa was overshadowed by comments he made rejecting the use of condoms in the fight against Aids.
However, it was his “steadfast interest in peace in Northern Ireland” that was praised yesterday by Irish President Michael D. Higgins.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He said Pope Benedict — played by Anthony Hopkins in 2019 film The Two Popes — would be remembered “for his untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world”.
Since 2013 Pope Benedict had lived in a monastery within the Vatican.
10
10
10
An era of 2 Popes in Vatican
BENEDICT XVI’s resignation in 2013 shocked Catholics around the world and heralded an unprecedented time with two Popes living as neighbours in the Vatican.
Then 85, he said his decision — making him the first pontiff to resign since Gregory XII in 1415 — was due to “advanced age”.
It came a year after it had emerged Benedict’s butler was found to be the source of leaks alleging corruption and Vatican infighting.
Film The Two Popes starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce is set in the aftermath of the scandal.
Pope Benedict was born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria, Germany, during the rise of the Nazi party, joining the Hitler Youth as membership was compulsory.
But he was never a member of the Nazi Party and his family opposed Hitler’s regime.
Topics