Former Pope Benedict XVI has passed away at the age of 95 and some who appear to be confused with his identity are asking – did the current pope die?
Benedict was elected on April 19, 2005, and served until March 13, 2013. He became the first pope to resign from the role in 600 years.
He spent his last years at the Vatican convent. An announcement made on the morning of December 31 confirmed Benedict’s passing.
Did the current pope die?
No, the current pope, Francis, isn’t dead.
Many on Twitter have noted they assumed Pope Francis had passed away when the news about the former pope was revealed.
Meanwhile, Francis, whose former name was Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, asked people for their prayers for Emeritus Pope Benedict while sharing that he was “very sick”.
Offering a clarification on the confusion, one tweeted: “BTW guys the current pope did not die a previous one did IDK why there is so much misinformation lol”
“The panic was real. I read “We join the rest of the world in mourning Pope–” and I thought the current Pope was dead, didn’t realize they meant the former Pope Benedict XVI,” wrote another.
Former Pope Benedict XVI was 95
A tweet shared by Vatican News on Twitter confirmed the former pope’s death.
“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.”
Another tweet was shared on Pope Francis’ official account, remembering the late Pope.
The tweet read: “We are moved as we recall him as such a noble person, so kind. And we feel such gratitude in our hearts: gratitude to God for having given hum to the Church and to the world”
The former pope, who was previously named Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, served 25 years as the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before succeeding Pope John Paul II. The latter held the title for 27 years.
The body of the former pope will be placed in St Peter’s Basilica on 2 January for “the greeting of the faithful” and Pope Francis will lead the funeral on January 5.
World leaders pay him tribute
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, said he was “saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.”
He said in a tweet: “He was a great theologian whose UK visit in 2010 was a historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country.”
President Joe Biden as well took to Twitter to pay his respect to the former pope. He tweeted: “Jill and I join Catholics and others around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He’ll be remembered as a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith. May he continue to be an inspiration to all.”
BBC reports King Charles III was deeply saddened by the news about Benedict’s death. “I also recall his constant efforts to promote peace and goodwill to all people, and to strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church,” he expressed.