Lagatar24 desk
Vatican City, Dec 31: Former Pope Benedict, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95 in a secluded monastery in the Vatican where he had lived since stepping down, a spokesman for the Holy See said.
As word of his passing spread among the devout, bells tolled throughout the tiny Vatican City.
According to the Vatican, his remains will lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica starting on Monday, and his funeral will take place on the morning of January 5. The event will be officiated by Pope Francis and held in the spacious square in front of the basilica.
“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,” spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.
Pope Francis revealed that his predecessor was “extremely unwell” earlier this week. According to Bruni, he underwent “the anointing of the ill,” or final rites, on Wednesday.
The first German pontiff in 1,000 years, Benedict, received immediate condolence messages from world leaders.
