Pope Benedict XVI Dies at 95
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI, the German theologian who served as head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced Saturday. His death marks a significant moment for the 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide and concludes a pontificate and subsequent decade-long retirement that were marked by both theological conservatism and controversy.
Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, unexpectedly resigned from the papacy on Febuary 28, 2013, citing declining health. His decision was the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years, and paved the way for the election of Pope Francis. While he remained a figurehead within the Church as pope Emeritus, his death closes a chapter defined by his intellectual rigor, his efforts to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis, and the challenges of leading the Church in a rapidly changing world.
Joseph Ratzinger was born in marktl am Inn,bavaria,Germany,on April 16,1927. He served in the Hitler youth during World War II and was briefly held in an American prisoner-of-war camp before entering seminary. Ordained a priest in 1951, he rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church, becoming Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977 and Cardinal in 1979.
For over two decades, he served as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Pope John Paul II, a role that made him a key enforcer of Catholic doctrine. As Prefect, he was involved in addressing the growing scandal of sexual abuse by clergy, a period that later drew criticism for what some considered insufficient action. “In the Church’s entire history,no one knew more but did less to protect kids than Benedict,” stated the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in a 2013 statement. “As head of CDF, thousands of cases of predator priests crossed his desk. Did he choose to warn families or call police about even one of those dangerous clerics? No. That, by definition, is a cover up.”
Elected Pope on April 19, 2005, following the death of John Paul II, Benedict XVI sought to reaffirm traditional catholic teachings in the face of increasing secularization. His papacy was also marked by efforts to improve relations with other Christian denominations and to address issues of social justice. Though, his tenure was also plagued by controversy, including the “Vatileaks” scandal in 2012, which revealed internal documents exposing corruption and power struggles within the Holy See.
Following his resignation, Benedict XVI largely withdrew from public life, choosing to be known as “Father Benedict” and residing in a secluded monastery on the Vatican grounds. He occasionally made public appearances at significant events, such as the canonization Mass of pope John XIII and Pope John Paul II on April 27, 2014.
On September 4, 2020, Benedict XVI became the longest-living pope in history, reaching the age of 93 years, four months, and 19 days. His death leaves a complex legacy, one that will continue to be debated and analyzed for years to come.Details regarding his funeral will be released by the Vatican in the coming days.