BREAKING: Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95

 Chuka Nnabuife| _National Light_ 

December 31, 2022

VATICAN has announced the death of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus this morning. The erstwhile pontiff of the Catholic Church died at 95 years. He died during illness. 

Disclosing death, earlier today, spokesman of the Vatican, Matteo Bruno announced that he passed at about 9.34am local time.

Excerpt from the Vatican statement: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.

Recently, the Vatican had announced that the former Pope was "critically ill."

Germany-born Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI   served as the Pope, head of the Catholic Church ... until he resigned in 2013, for personal reasons at the age of 85, becoming the first pontiff to resign as head of the Catholic Church since Gregory XII in 1415.

Born, April 16, 1927, in Marktl, Germany, full name, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was a Holocaust survivor who became Pope. His tenure marked a revival of vibrance in Christianity across Europe. He was also remarkable for inter-Christian dialogues.

He was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. He succeeded the late Pope John Paul II who died in 2005.