Pope Benedict XVI Dies at 95

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Emeritus Benedict the XVI died Saturday morning at the age of 95 in the Vatican.

Bells rang out from Munich Cathedral and a single bell was heard ringing from St. Peter’s Square in Rome after the death was announced.

The news coming just days after Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for him, as his health had been on the decline for some time.

Born Joseph Ratzinger, the Pope Emeritus received his priestly ordination on June 29, 1951. 

In 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology and then on March 25, 1977, he was named Archbishop of Munich and Freising.

On April 19, 2005, he was elected as the 265th pope. He was the oldest person to be elected pope since 1730 and had been a cardinal for a longer period of time than any pope since 1724.

On February 11, 2013, Benedict announced his decision to resign and just days later on the 28th, his pontificate came to an end. His successor, Pope Francis will lead the funeral on January 5, 2023.