Pope Benedict XVI's life and legacy spark interest, particularly because of his unprecedented resignation from the papacy. What is his current age? What were the underlying reasons for his decision to step down? Is he still alive? These are common questions, alongside observations about the contrasting tenures of Benedict and his successor, Pope Francis.
Pope Francis passed away on 21 April at 88, concluding a significant 12-year period as the first Latin American pope to lead the Catholic Church. His election in 2013 followed an unexpected turning point in papal history: the voluntary departure of Pope Benedict XVI from the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State. That unprecedented move by Pope Benedict XVI stemmed from a combination of factors.
