Joseph Ratzinger - Pope Benedict XVI died on Saturday
31st December 2022 - aged 95. The Pope defined a
conservative course for the Roman Catholic Church.
He was elected Pope, April 19 2005 and unexpectedly
resigned in February 2013. The first Pope in six
centuries to resign.

The Vatican said that Pope Benedict's health had taken a
turn due to advancing age.

Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
of Buenos Aires was Pope Benedict's successor and on
good terms personally. Pope Francis moved decisively
to re-shape the papacy, firing or demoting many of
Benedict's traditionalist appointees and elevating
the virtue of mercy over rules that Benedict had spent
decades refining and enforcing.

Pope Benedict the quiet intellectual who had largely
preached to the Church's most fervent believers was
soon eclipsed by Pope Francis who became a popular
successor and immediately sought to widen Catholicism's
appeal to make the Vatican newly relevant in world affairs.

Pope Benedict retired and lived at the monastery in the
Vatican City grounds.

Cardinal Pell will be attending Pope Benedict's funeral.
Cardinal Pell did not approve of Pope Benedict's resignation
in 2013.

Pope Benedict's death marks the end of an era.
Which health-wise on him took its toll.

As an era it -
saw the Pope struggle with the clergy sexual abuse
scandal. Pope Benedict went on to apologise for the abuse and
met with victims but he could not escape the reality that
the Churchj had shielded priests accused of molestation, minimized
behaviour and kept it all secret from civil authorities
forestalling criminal prosecutions.

His resignation was understandable.

May he Rest In Peace.

Lucky Pope, 95, dead, now he's in "HEAVEN".....Then again hummmmmm, who knows.

A male nurse recounts former Pope Benedict's last words:

"Lord, I Love You!" spoken early on Saturday. He died
later that day.

Pope Francis offered up prayers for his soul.

Opinions are the name of the game here, not great slabs copied from the media.

ttbn,

Most people can do both in discussions
especially when information needs to be provided
about a rather unknown entity like Pope Benedict.

That's usually
the norm. However you're not under any obligation
to participate in any way - especially if all
you have to contribute is your usual critical diatribe.

So how about something of more substance from you?

Dear Paul,

You're probably right about Pope Benedict.
He is in a better place. Well, at least, lets hope.