Benedict XVI, former pope, dies at 95

Due to his advanced age, physicians indicated the retired pontiff’s health had been deteriorating.

Benedict XVI, a retired Pope Emeritus, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, according to the Vatican. That came after doctors recently reported that the ex-president’s health has lately deteriorated due to his advanced age.

The Holy See Press Office announced that Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus, passed away today at 9:34 a.m. in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.

Benedict XVI died right after Pope Francis asked for prayers for him and said that he was “extremely sick” in a public speech on Wednesday.

“Let’s think of him. He is gravely ill and asks the Lord to comfort and support him to the end in giving this witness of love for the Church,” said Francis.

Several weeks ago, according to France 24, those who had visited Benedict noticed that while his body was feeble, his mind was still bright.

In almost a thousand years, Benedict XVI was the first pope from Germany. From 2005 until his abrupt retirement in 2013, when he claimed he lacked the physical or mental stamina to carry out his duties, he served as the head of the Catholic Church.

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In order to combat the rising secularisation of many Western countries, Benedict promoted a return of the Catholic church to essential Christian values during his tenure. The pontiff asserted in his writings that relativism, which rejects moral and objective realities, is the main issue facing society in the twenty-first century.

But a recent investigation by German prosecutors, which said that the former pope didn’t do enough to stop clergy abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982, has made people doubt his legacy.

The former pope said he didn’t know about the crimes committed by the clergy in Munich, but he still asked for forgiveness “from the bottom of his heart” for any mistakes he may have made in not stopping the horrible crimes.