Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passes away - Vatican

Colombo (News 1st) - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 95, passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM Vatican time in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, the Vatican announced.

"Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has returned to the Father’s House," the Vatican said in a statement.

"As of Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter's Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell," the Vatican said.

Funeral arrangements would be notified in the next few hours, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis last Wednesday visited the ailing Pope Emeritus and asked Christians worldwide to pray for Benedict XVI.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected pope on 19th April 2005 on the death of Pope John Paul II, and served until 28th February 2013 when he became the first pope in 600 years to retire.