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Ex-Pope Benedict XVI dies in Vatican City aged 95.
Full name: Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
Born: April 16, 1927 (age 95 years), Marktl, Germany
Influenced by: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Josef Pieper, MORE
Nationality: German
Pope Benedict XVI funeral will be held on January 5.
In comparison to Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI was known to be more traditional.
Often referred to as ‘God’s Rottweiler’, Pope Benedict XVI was a significant force in shaping Catholic doctrine, but also faced public condemnation for the way he handled the sexual abuse crisis in Catholic Church.
World leaders have paid respects to the German-born pontiff.
The Archbishop of Canterbury eulogized Benedict as “one of the preeminent theologians of our time.”
Net worth of Pope Benedict XVI
Some estimates show Pope Benedict has a net worth of about $2.5 million.
The world is mourning the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 95 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. His funeral will be held on Thursday in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City and will be led by Pope Francis.
The former pope’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican from Monday until the funeral, according to Vatican News. Benedict first made headlines in 2013 when he announced plans to step down from his position as Pope, citing his “advanced age.”
He was the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position. During his time in office, Benedict was a powerful and polarizing voice in the Catholic Church, serving as a stern chair of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the Vatican office that oversees religious doctrine. He was known to be more conservative than his successor, Pope Francis, who has made moves to soften the Vatican’s position on abortion and homosexuality.
Global leaders have been paying tribute to Benedict, calling him a “giant of faith and reason” and a “great theologian.” Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Benedict’s UK visit in 2010 was an “historic moment.” In January 2020, Benedict issued a general apology to survivors of abuse in the Catholic Church.
In a letter released by the Vatican, he wrote that he was “of good cheer” as he faced “the final judge of my life,” despite his shortcomings.