The strange afterlife of Pope Benedict XVIs pontificate, which ended with his death on Saturday at 95, was not quite so wild or dramatic. WebLocation. Benedict, in retirement, often resisted being used by Catholic conservatives to undercut Francis. Angela Bernardini, who sells religious objects at a shop near the Vatican, used to see Pope Benedict when he was still a cardinal and lived nearby. Benedict announced the decision in Latin during a routine gathering of cardinals, telling them that after much thought, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of leading the worlds one billion Roman Catholics. Francis has made aging, and concern about the abandonment of the aged, a hallmark of his late papacy, using his own deteriorating body, as John Paul II did, as a testament to the suffering of an increasing population of older people. Benedict XVI, pope who resigned to spend final years in quiet His sweetness and wisdom have benefited our community and the entire international community, Mr. Mattarella said in a statement. When Cardinal Ratzinger became pope, the scandal exploded publicly throughout the global church. She had been praying for him that morning before hearing that he had died, as she had prayed in the past days since learning that he was unwell. ROME At the Al Passetto di Borgo restaurant, where Benedict used to eat before he became pope, the cooks in white aprons listened somberly to the news about his death as they got ready for the New Years Eve dinner shift. Benedict was confronted with the oppressive problem of worldwide sexual abuse and its systematic cover-up, the president wrote. Early in 2022, the retired pope, who resigned as the leader of the global Catholic Church in 2013, admitted to providing false information to a German inquiry into clerical sexual abuse, while strongly denying any misconduct or intent to mislead on his part. Benedict held uncompromising positions on homosexuality and contraception. Clearly thats not an issue in this case, he said, but added that cardinals would likely be present as mourners.. He retired leaving a chequered reputation after a papacy that was at times divisive. The first pope to step down in six centuries dies in retirement. Benedict also thanked his friends, collaborators, students, his Bavarian homeland and his adopted home in Rome and Italy. The committee is expected to meet again ahead of the funeral to fine tune details. ROME When Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, he was the first pope to do so in six centuries, and the move sent shock waves around the world. WebPope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; on 16 April 1927) served as Pope of the Catholic Church He had strongly opposed liberation theology, a radical movement that began in South American in the 1960s and advocated clerical social activism among the poor and marginalised. It also accused him of having misled investigators in his written answers. In Berlin, Germanys Parliament announced that mourning flags would be hung from the parliamentary building, noting in a statement that Benedict had come there as a guest 11 years ago. A soft-spoken intellectual and scholar, Benedict XVI was the head of the worlds 1.3 billion Roman Catholics for eight years, sandwiched between the charismatic Pope (now Saint) John Paul II (1978-2005), one of the longest papacies in history, and the reformist agenda of Pope Francis, who began serving in 2013. His favorite was spaghetti alla carbonara, he said. On 13 February 2008 Pope Benedict XVI had granted the dispensation from the five-year waiting period after death, necessary for the cause of beatification to begin, and on 28 April 2008 the request to open the Show more . He took the title of Pope Emeritus, and pledged to remain hidden to the world, devoting himself to private prayer. ", "Pope Benedict XVI honored at St. Peter's Square funeral", "Benedict XVI's funeral: Tens of thousands attend simple, solemn liturgy for beloved pope emeritus", "I funerali di Benedetto XVI, l'omelia di Papa Francesco: "Ha testimoniato il Vangelo nella sua vita", "Pope Benedict XVI laid to rest as 50,000 pay respects in St Peter's Square", "Live Updates | The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI", "Faithful mourn Benedict XVI at funeral presided over by pope", "Pope praises 'wise, tender' Benedict at solemn burial", "Some find fault with Francis' homily for Benedict", "The last time a Pope celebrated the funeral of his predecessor was in 1802", "Public now can see Benedict's tomb at St. Peter's Basilica", "Factbox: Former Pope Benedict to have simple funeral after lying in state", "Portugual's president unhappy with Vatican delegation restrictions for Benedict XVI funeral", "Benedikt XVI. In January 2020, Benedict publicly defended clerical celibacy, as Francis was considering allowing married men to become priests in limited circumstances. But for some and it seems to me for you as well the pain has turned to anger, which no longer just affects the abdication but my person and the entirety of my pontificate., Benedict added, In this way the pontificate itself is being devalued and conflated with the sadness about the situation of the church today.. But Benedicts successor, Pope Francis, was named when Benedict stepped down in 2013. Leaders from Italy, elsewhere in Europe and the Russian Orthodox Church paid tribute to Benedict XVI on Saturday, citing his traditional morals and his dedication to the Roman Catholic Church. By Vatican News Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has returned to the Fathers House. In a traditional New Years Eve service held at the Vatican, Francis praised Benedict, saying, With emotion, we remember his person, so noble, so kind. Given Benedicts frail health at the time, however, many church watchers questioned whether he had indeed written the letter or had been manipulated to issue it as a way to undercut Francis. They sought to draw him into an internecine ideological war within the church, but he kept his distance and mostly kept quiet, upholding his vow to remain hidden from the world. Mr. Steinmeier, too, raised the topic of sexual abuse in the church. [46] In a departure from previous papal funeral Masses, Eucharistic PrayerIII was planned to be used instead of the Roman Canon. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dead at 95, Vatican says In 2019, Benedict broke his post-papacy silence, issuing a 6,000-word letter that seemed at odds with his successors view of the churchs sexual abuse scandals. Normally, cardinals gather for papal funerals to mourn, but also to participate in the election of a successor. Reactions are beginning to pour in from across the world at the news of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVIs death, who passed away on Saturday morning at 9:34. "[60], On 31 January 2023, to commemorate the death of Benedict XVI, Vatican City released a stamp.[108]. Nuestra sinceras condolencias a la comunidad catlica. In April 2019, two months after Francis convened a groundbreaking Vatican conference on sexual abuse, Benedict published a 6,000-word letter saying abuse was a product of a culture of sexual freedom dating from the 1960s. WebBenedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Is that a big deal? President Sergio Mattarella of Italy paid tribute to Benedict XVI as an intellectual and theologian. On social media, the dean of Colognes cathedral posted videos of Fat Pete, the churchs largest bell, pealing in honor of Benedict. Various treatments have apparently improved his mobility, as instead of relying on a wheelchair, he used a cane and leaned on two aides after delivering the annual Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) speech on Christmas. Yet Vatican politics and church coalition-building are complicated and unpredictable. [28] Archbishop Georg Gnswein, Benedict's personal secretary and confidant, said that his last words, heard by a nurse, were "Signore ti amo" (Italian for 'Lord, I love you'). That said, the real challenge is changing the culture of individual bishops, and that can be enormous., Anne Barrett Doyle, a co-director of BishopAccountability.org, a victims advocacy and research group, said in a statement that Benedict would be remembered chiefly for his failure to achieve what should have been his job one: to rectify the incalculable harm done to the hundreds of thousands of children sexually abused by Catholic priests.. Benedict XVI Benedict had in a certain sense created the problem, keeping the title, if not power, as pope emeritus, and his white robes. Pope Benedict XVI Papa: grande maestro, aiuti a scoprire gioia della fede", "World's Christians to be represented at Pope Benedict's funeral", "Donegal woman to read at funeral of Pope Benedict", "Pope Benedict XVI: Archbishop of Armagh to attend funeral of late pontiff", "Archbishop Dermot Farrell with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Eamon Martin at the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter's Square", "Pope Francis meets with Hong Kong's Cardinal Zen the day after Benedict XVI's funeral", "Hong Kong's cardinal Joseph Zen met Pope Francis report", "Hong Kong court allows Cardinal Zen to leave city to attend funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: Source", "Hong Kong court allows cardinal to attend Benedict funeral: source", "Cardinal Zen attends Benedict XVI funeral after Hong Kong authorities release passport", "HK court allows cardinal to attend Benedict funeral UCA News", "A Month After His Death, a Postage Stamp is Released in Honour of Benedict XVI", "Gobierno argentino y todo el arco poltico expresaron sus condolencias por el fallecimiento de Benedicto XVI", "Van der Bellen "tief berhrt": Trauer um Papst Benedikt XVI", "Pope Francis and world leaders pay tribute to Benedict XVI", "Recebi com tristeza a notcia da morte do papa emrito Bento XVI. President of the Assembly of the Republic. Biden and Pelosi pay homage to Pope Benedict XVI. In a written statement to the inquiry, he said he did not recall attending a meeting with local officials in 1980 to discuss a priest suspected of pedophilia. Pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95 - ABC News Death of Pope Emeritus Benedict: his official biography As Pope Francis opened core issues of church doctrine and teachings to debate, aghast church conservatives looked in vain to Benedict XVI, the retired pope in the Vatican Gardens, for leadership, or at least tacit support. He retired to in a monastery in Vatican City, where he read, wrote letters and articles, received guests and played the piano. Four years later, Pope John Paul II summoned Cardinal Ratzinger to Rome, where he became the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the office responsible for defending church orthodoxy, one of the Vaticans most important positions. Elisabetta Povoledo,Gaia Pianigiani and Anatoly Kurmanaev. Benedict, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, was ordained a priest in 1951, and named archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977, the same year that he became a cardinal. Benedict XVI His resignation as pope in 2013 shocked the world. At the same time, however, he also had to face the responsibility for difficult phases in his ministry.. He told the trial he had been acting against evil and corruption. Presented with case files, Cardinal Ratzinger sometimes set disciplinary measures in motion, even having accused priests defrocked. In his spiritual will, Benedict offers final thoughts on faith. Justin Welby, the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, said Benedict was one of the greatest theologians of his age. Descanse en paz ", " ", "Nos unimos al dolor por el fallecimiento del Papa emrito Benedicto XVI, quien deja un fructfero legado y demostr en su vida que la fe, la razn y la justicia pueden ir de la mano. His pallium, coins and medals minted during his reign, and a rogito (Italian for 'deed'; a text summarizing his life and pontificate) were placed in his coffin before it was closed. He was a pope who always drew ardent loyalists, as well as strong detractors. [52][3] In accordance with tradition, Benedict's cypress coffin was placed inside a zinc one, which was in turn enclosed in an oak outer coffin. The Vatican said that his funeral would be held on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peters Square, presided over by Pope Francis. In Italy, President Sergio Mattarella said that Benedict XVI would be unforgettable for the Italian people. He led the office for nearly 25 years. I finally ask you, please pray for me, he said. The airspace over St. Peters will be closed during Thursdays ceremony and at least 1,000 police officers will be deployed, the security official, Bruno Frattasi said. I can well understand the deep-seated pain that the end of my pontificate caused you and many others, he wrote in a November 2017 letter to Cardinal Walter Brandmller of Germany. Catholic News Agency on Instagram: "Pope Francis has nach Rom", "Beerdigung von Benedikt XVI. [25] The same day, a special mass was celebrated for Benedict at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. As a younger cleric, Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger, experienced the opening of the Catholic Church to the modern world that was set in motion by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, which he attended as a theological adviser. Cross bequeathed by Pope Benedict XVI is stolen from church in [3][55], Before this funeral, the first time a pope had assisted at the funeral of his predecessor occurred in 1802, when a solemn ceremony was celebrated in the presence of Pius VII when the remains of Pius VI, who died in French custody in 1799, were brought to Rome. Francis did not disclose the exact nature of his ailment, but called for people to pray for Benedict. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on Saturday morning in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery in the Vatican. Catholics said the former popes objections to marriage equality and to L.G.B.T.Q. Antonello Fulvimari, the owner of Al Passetto Restaurant in Rome, recalled Benedict XVIs love for Italian cuisine. Benedicts death brings to a close an unprecedented period in recent history where two popes have coexisted, a situation that has caused tensions within rival camps in the Vatican. By contrast, hundreds of thousands participated in the funeral in 2005 of Pope John Paul, whose papacy lasted 27 years to Benedicts eight. Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in 1977. Clockwise from top left: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times, Alberto Pizzoli/Agence France-Presse Getty Images, LOsservatore Romano, and Lalo de Almeida for The New York Times. : Knige und Staatschefs bei Beisetzung erwartet", "Funerali di Benedetto XVI, Meloni vedr prima i leader sovranisti e poi Scholz", "I funerali di Papa Ratzinger in diretta", "Ratzinger: La Russa influenzato, Gasparri ai funerali", "Le foto dei funerali di Ratzinger, in Vaticano", "AMP | Funerali Benedetto XVI, in piazza San Pietro politici e teste coronate", "Funerali Ratzinger, presente anche Mario Draghi tra le autorit", "Tod von Benedikt XVI. Ratzinger was less communicative than Francis but he moved in the right direction, when it came to confronting the clerical abuse scandal, the first pope to really do so, said Francesco Zanardi, the founder of Rete lAbuso, the largest victims group in Italy. Benedict had been showing signs of age, often appeared tired and used a wheeled platform to move around. She called him a giant of faith and religion, and, in a statement, stressed Benedicts service to the church and the spiritual, cultural and intellectual depth of his teaching.. Benedict was the longest-living pope, having surpa ssed Pope Leo XIII in September 2020. Benedict XVI WebPope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, April 19, We mourn the death of our Bavarian pope, said Markus Sder, the governor, adding: With him, society loses a convincing representative of the Catholic Church and one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century., He gave strength and orientation to many people, Mr. Sder said. Retired Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95 : NPR [11][12] Speculation about his health had arisen in the preceding weeks. German predecessor to Pope Francis became first pontiff to step down as head of Catholic church in 600 years. Former Pope Benedict XVI dies in Vatican monastery aged 95 He suffers from sciatica, a chronic nerve condition that causes, back, hip and leg pain, giving him a limp. Pope Benedict XVI - Wikipedia So 2005. He cited his declining health, both of mind and body. He had said that he had resigned freely, and for the good of the church.. WebFormer Pope Benedict XVI has died, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health. As well as the flood of allegations, lawsuits and official reports relating to sexual abuse and the priests complicity in covering it up, the Vatican was also rocked by the theft of confidential documents, many of which later appeared in an expos of alleged corruption. Never before had a pope spoken before an elected German Parliament, the statement said. ", "Le ultime parole di Benedetto XVI: 'Signore ti amo! [55], Francis delivered a short homily during the Mass that focused on the reading from the Gospel, mentioning Benedict briefly such as to praise his "wisdom, tenderness and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years". WebCNN . He defined a conservative course for the Roman Catholic Church, but his papacy was noted for his struggle with the clergy The decision was made for Benedict to adopt the title of pope emeritus and continue to wear white. After Benedicts resignation, he moved into the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on the grounds of Vatican City, where he said he would devote his life to meditation and prayer. Pope Benedict XVI Dies at Age 95 - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal WebPope Francis meets Archbishop Georg Gnswein, personal secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican in this May 19, 2023, file As a German pope, Benedict XVI was a special church leader for many, not only in this country, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement on Twitter. My family is very pro-life, she told The Times in 2015. Jim Tankersley and Stephanie Lai Jim Tankersley reported from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Stephanie Lai from Washington D.C. Pope sends Benedict XVI's former aide back to Germany in latest