Vatican City, Dec 31 (UNI): Former Pope Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at his Vatican residence. He was 95 years old.
Pope Benedict XVI was at the helm of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, when he resigned because of ailing health. In doing so he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
Benedict spent his last years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican.
He was succeeded by Pope Francis.
In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took to Twitter to condole the former Pope’s death. “Saddened by the demise of Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict was a true shepherd of God who worked diligently to serve God through service of His people. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote.
Image courtesy: Twitter
