BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni’ has announced the dead of Pope Emeritus. Reports say he died at 9:34 am on Saturday December 31, 2022 in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, which the 95-year-old Pope emeritus had chosen as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013.
“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 AM in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible” said the Director of the Holy See press office Matteo Bruni’s in a statement.
He added that on Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter's Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell.
KNews learnt for several days, the health conditions of the Pope Emeritus had worsened due to advancing age.
It should be noted that Pope Francis himself publicly shared the news about his predecessor's worsening health at the end of the last General Audience of the year, on Wednesday December 28, 2022.
KNews later learnt the Pope had invited people to pray for the Pope Emeritus, who was "very ill," so that the Lord might console him and support him "in this witness of love for the Church until the end." In the next few hours, the Holy See Press Office will communicate details for the funeral rite.
Late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Contact KNews on Whtapp +237651252410. We’re professionals in our domain