Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. (1927-2022) is dead. Joseph Ratzinger, like Benedict XVI. whose real name was died in the Vatican at the age of 95. "It is with great pain that I have to announce that Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, died at 09:34 today in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican," the Vatican press office said.

According to "Vatican News", the Holy See has also announced that Benedict's body will be publicly laid out in St. Peter's Basilica from January 2nd. Believers should then be able to say goodbye to the former Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from April 2005 to February 2013. Pope Francis (86) recently said at his general audience in the Vatican that Benedict was "very ill". Francis had asked the faithful to join Benedict in prayer.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni (46) later confirmed that Benedict's condition had deteriorated over the past few days. Pope Francis had also renewed his call to pray for Benedict and to accompany him on this path.