Former pope Benedict, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, has died at age 95.
Former Pope Benedict died on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican, a spokesman for the Holy See said.
On Thursday Pope Francis disclosed that Benedict was “very sick” and asked the faithful to say prayers for him. The Vatican did not give any details of his condition.Until a few weeks ago, those who had seen the retired pope said his body was very frail but his mind was still sharp. Cardinals had chosen Benedict from among their number seeking continuity and what one called “a safe pair of hands”.For nearly 25 years, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was the powerful head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, then known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith .
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