Vatican City ∙ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (95) has served time. He passed away at 9.34am local time on Saturday at the Mater Exicia Monastery in the Vatican. His health had been deteriorating for a few days. He succeeded Pope John Paul II on 19 April 2005 and abdicated on 28 February 2013 due to ill health. He then lived in retirement as Pope Emeritus at his residence in the Vatican Gardens. It was the first time in six centuries that a pope had abdicated. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German citizen, became Pope under the title Benedict XVI.
At the same time, Benedict XVI, known as a conservative and progressive pope, has also been described as a guardian of morality.
Joseph Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927, in Markthal, Bavaria, Germany, the third son of Joseph Ratzinger Sr., a police officer, and Maria. At the age of 14, he was drafted into the Hitler Youth in 1941, but did not actively participate. In 1945 he joined the Catholic seminary with his brother George Ratzinger. He became a priest on 29 June 1951. In 1977 he became Archbishop of Munich.
In 1980, he was given the task of preparing reports to be presented by the Pope at the synods of bishops. On November 25, 1981, he assumed the role of prefect of the ‘Doctrine of Faith’ community. In 2002, the Cardinal became Dean of the Congregation. He was elected Pope on April 19, 2005, succeeding Pope John Paul II while Archbishop of Ostia, Germany. He dropped the name Joseph Ratzinger and adopted the name Benedict XVI. Resigned on February 28, 2013.
Conscripted into Hitler’s youth army as a teenager, he witnessed the persecution of Jews in Nazi concentration camps. Its pain led him to the path of God.
Benedict XVI has often been criticized for his harshness. He took a strong stand against women becoming priests, abortion and extramarital affairs. He called on believers to abandon artificial methods of conception, while also using social media, including Twitter, to interact with the new generation. International observers and the media evaluated Fidel Castro’s visit to Cuba as ‘revolutionary’.
Sister Alphonsamma was named the first saint of the Indian Church by Pope Benedict XVI. The Kerala Church was also given proper representation in the Vatican by consecrating two cardinals in the Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankara Church.
English Summary: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies at 95