The pope Emeritus, Benedict the XVI who became the first pontiff to resign in some 600 years, has died aged 95.
This death came few days after the Pope Francis, who replaced him as head of the Catholic Church, had asked the faithful to pray for him at the end of his general audience on Wednesday morning.
The Vatican said Benedict’s body will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica from Monday.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
“As of Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter’s Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell.”
