Benedict XVI, who shocked the world’s 1.2 billion followers of the Roman Catholic Church when he became the first pope to resign in almost six centuries, has died. He was 95.
Benedict XVI passed away at 9:34 a.m. on Saturday at his residence in the Vatican. The public will be able to pay respects to Benedict from Jan. 2 when his body will be on view in Saint Peter’s Basilica, and Pope Francis will lead the funeral service on Jan. 5, Matteo Bruni, the head of the Vatican press office, said at a media briefing.
Benedict relinquished the leadership of the church in 2013, saying that he no longer had the “strength of mind and body” to fulfill his duties. He was succeeded by Argentine-born Pope Francis the following month and took the first-ever title of pope emeritus.
