The Latest Breaking News from Joseph Ratzinger

“The Queen and the Pope understood what it was to be in service more or less for a lifetime.”

For the first time in modern history, a sitting pope will preside over his predecessor's funeral next week, with Pope Francis leading a "simple" ceremony for Benedict XVI, who died Saturday.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was a reluctant pope who never wanted to be pontiff

Within minutes of the Vatican's announcement of the death of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, a wealth of tributes poured in from around the world

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Although Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had a long and illustrious career as one of the Roman Catholic Church’s pre-eminent theologians, he will forever be known as the first pope in 600 years to resign

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is paying tribute to the German-born Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a “formative figure of the Catholic Church.”

The man born Joseph Ratzinger spent many decades as a key figure in Catholicism, writes Paul Vallely, but his choice to end his eight years as head of the Church and become Pope Emeritus will live longest in the memory

Following are some facts about former Pope Benedict, who died on Saturday:

He is remembered as a staunch conservative who opposed modernizing reforms and as the first pope to step down since the 15th century.

The German theologian and philosopher Joseph Ratzinger, who was head of the Roman Catholic Church for eight years as Pope Benedict XVI, has died at the age of 95. Benedict resigned as pontiff in 2013 citing declining physical and mental health. He had been seriously ill for some time.