[Jerusalem Post] Former Pope Benedict XVI died on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican, a spokesman for the Holy See said."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. Further information will be provided as soon as possible," the spokesman said in a written statement. He had also spent his final years at the monastery, where his successor Pope Francis had visited him frequently, the BBC reported.
"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. Further information will be provided as soon as possible."
Holy See spokesman
He died at the age of 95 at his Vatican residence, BBC reported. He led the Catholic Church for eight years until 2013 when he had to step down due to health issues.
Benedict had fallen extremely ill before his passing. The Vatican had said in a statement on Wednesday that the former Pope had suffered a sudden "worsening" of his health. His announcement reportedly shocked the Catholic world, according to multiple sources, and also made him the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
| Related: The Times of Israel remembers him at length. |