Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Marktl am Inn, in southeastern Germany, near the border with Austria, on April 16, 1927. 

Ratzinger's early years were defined both by World War II, and by his faith. Hitler rose to power during Ratzinger's adolescence in Traunstein, in the heavily Catholic region of Bavaria. When he was 14, school officials followed Nazi officials' orders and enrolled him and the rest of his class in the Hitler Youth movement — against his will, Ratzinger wrote in his memoir.

Ratzinger's pre-papal career: In 1943 he was drafted into the German army. For the next two years, Ratzinger served as part of an anti-aircraft unit. He later deserted — and was taken prisoner by the US military.

In 1953, he earned a doctorate in theology, and eventually he became a professor — teaching dogma and fundamental theology at four German universities.

One of his most significant steps up came in 1981 when he took over as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith — the Vatican office that oversees "the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world," according to the Vatican.

"Cardinal No": Ratzinger earned the nickname "Cardinal No" for his efforts to crack down on the liberation theology movement, religious pluralism, challenges to traditional teachings on issues such as homosexuality, and calls to ordain women as priests.

Over the years, he was at the center of several controversies: he labeled homosexuality "an intrinsic moral evil," and called the Soviet Union and its communist satellite nations "a shame of our time."

His friendship with Pope John Paul II went back decades, a bond that held until John Paul’s death in 2005, by which time Ratzinger was dean of the College of Cardinals — the high-level group that advises the pope and, when called upon, picks a new pontiff.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who served as the head of the Catholic Church for eight years before his resignation shocked the world, has died.

The 95-year-old former pontiff was 95 and his health had been decline for some time.

The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See Matteo Bruni announced the news Saturday in a statement.

“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. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.”

Benedict, who was elected as the 265th pope in 2005, stunned the Catholic faithful and religious experts around the globe in 2013 when he announced he would step down as pope, citing his “advanced age.”   

He was the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position, rather than hold office for life.

Bookended by globally popular and charismatic popes -- St. John Paul II and Pope Francis – Benedict cut a different figure. Friends and biographers described him as quiet and scholarly, more at home among theological tomes than adoring crowds.   

The German-born Benedict saw himself, and the church, as a bulwark against secular trends in Western society, particularly what he called the “dictatorship of relativism.” He often insisted that Catholics maintain a fortress mentality, saying perhaps a smaller, “purer” church would best maintain Catholicism’s traditions and teachings.   

As Pope, Benedict was a polarizing figure. He was hailed by conservatives who admired his erudite writings and careful theology. But critics, particularly in the postmodern West, called him “God’s Rottweiler” for his staunch insistence on fidelity to church’s doctrine and his willingness to silence dissent.   

Benedict also came under fire for his handling of the sexual abuse crisis that engulfed the Catholic church during his years as a senior cleric. A damning report published in January 2022 found that he knew about priests who abused children but failed to act when he was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.   

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away, the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni said Saturday in a statement.

“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.

Pope Francis on Wednesday called for prayers asking God to “console” the sick Pope Emeritus Benedict “until the end.”

Earlier, at his general audience, Francis had described Benedict as "very sick" and called on the faithful to offer up a "special prayer" for him.

He then visited his predecessor at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on the grounds of Vatican City, a Vatican spokesman said.

The spokesman said there had "been a deterioration due to the advancement of his age" in the previous few hours, and that Benedict's situation was being "continually monitored by his doctors."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was elected as pontiff in April 2005, at the age of 78.

Given his age, he was widely seen as a caretaker pope, a bridge to the next generation after John Paul II's long tenure.

A strict conservative: As an aide to John Paul II, Benedict served as a strict enforcer of his conservative social doctrine. He continued to espouse a conservative doctrine after taking office himself and frequently warned of a "dictatorship of relativism."

In his tone, demeanor and actions, Benedict was notably different from his predecessor -- where John Paul wowed crowds with his mastery of numerous languages, Benedict's influence was felt through his erudite writings and theological rigor.   

As Pope, Benedict often championed a back-to-basics approach. Three of his encyclicals – letters from the Pope to Catholics around the world – were based on the theological virtues of faith, hope and love.   

Church sex abuse crisis: Benedict became Pope at the height of the global sexual abuse scandal involving Catholic priests.

In 2008, he acknowledged "the shame which we have all felt" over abuse reports, and in 2010 issued new rules aimed at stopping abusive priests who he said "disfigured their ministry.”

Some believe he did more to tackle the abuse than any of his papal predecessors, while others saw his response as woefully inadequate.

Benedict came under renewed criticism in 2021 over his time as archbishop of Munich and Freising, following the publication of a Church-commissioned report into abuse by Catholic clergy there. The report found that while in the post, between 1977 and 1982, he had been informed of four cases of sexual abuse involving minors — including two that had occurred during his time in office — but failed to act.

Other controversies: The abuse crisis was one of a string of controversies to dominate Benedict's time as pontiff, which often garnered more attention than his conciliatory actions.

In 2006, he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who called Islam "evil and inhuman" — which provoked rioting in some parts of the Muslim world and prompted Benedict to apologize — and he lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop in 2009.

Benedict's other controversies included his comments that condom distribution "increases the problem" of AIDS, and his decision to revive a Good Friday prayer for the conversion of Jews.