Pope Benedict XVI has died at his residence in The Vatican.
The Former Pope was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on 16 April 1927 and died on 31 December 2022. He was 95 years old.
Pope Benedict was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013.
Why did Pope Benedict change his name?
In his first general audience, after being crowned Pope which was held at the St. Peter’s Square in the presence of 15,000 people, the Pope again gave thanks to God for having elected him as Peter’s successor, and explained why he chose the name of Benedict.
Portions of Pope Benedict’s statement reads: