Photos: Scenes of Pope Benedict XVI during and after his papacy
Pope Francis, left, embraces Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, at the Vatican on June 28, 2017. Pope Francis on Wednesday said his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, is “very sick,” and he asked the faithful to pray for the retired pontiff so God will comfort him “to the very end.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday. He was 95.
Benedict stunned the world on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced, in his typical, soft-spoken Latin, that he no longer had the strength to run the 1.2 billion-strong Catholic Church that he had steered for eight years through scandal and indifference.
His dramatic decision paved the way for the conclave that elected Pope Francis as his successor. The two popes then lived side-by-side in the Vatican gardens, an unprecedented arrangement that set the stage for future “popes emeritus” to do the same.
Then Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica moments after being elected in 2005.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
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Father Dariusz Zagorski, center, from Poland, celebrates with other pilgrims at the sounding of the bells announcing a new pope in St. Peter’s Square on April 19, 2005. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was named the new pope and took up the name Pope Benedict XVI.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing on the occasion of the traditional exchange of Christmas greetings to the Curia, in the Regia Hall, at the Vatican on Dec. 20, 2010. Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church must reflect on what is wrong with its message and Christian life in general that allowed for the widespread sexual abuse of children by priests.
(Alessandra Tarantino / Pool Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges cheers from faithful and pilgrims during the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 24, 2007.
(Plinio Lepri / Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful and to a group of soldiers in Coppito, near L’Aquila, Italy, on April 28, 2009.
(Sandro Perozzi / Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI, right, accompanied by Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, greets the crowd gathered in St Mark’s Square while crossing the square on an electric vehicle on May 7, 2011, in Venice, Italy.
(Marco Secchi/Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby being held up to him in Coppito, near L’Aquila, Italy, on April 28, 2009.
(Sandro Perozzi / Associated Press)
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Pope Francis meets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to exchange Christmas greetings in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Benedict XVI’s residence, on Dec. 23, 2013, in Vatican City.
(Maurix/Gamma-Rapho / Getty Images)
Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meet the newly named cardinals at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Aug. 27 in Vatican City.
(Vatican Pool / Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates baptisms in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 8, 2012, in Vatican City.
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