Tag Archives: Benedict

Tens of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI when his lying in state begins at the Vatican later. He died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ill health. Pope Francis will …

Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health. He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict spent …

Former Pope Benedict is “absolutely lucid and alert” and his condition is serious but stable, the Vatican has said.   The update comes a day after Pope Francis said his predecessor Benedict XVI is “very sick” and asked the faithful to pray for the retired pontiff so God will comfort him “to …

Leader of the Roman Catholic church, Pope Francis has said that his predecessor Pope Benedict, the 95-year-old former pontiff who resigned from the post nine years ago, is “very sick” after a deterioration in his health on Wednesday.   “I want to ask you all for a special prayer for …