He succeeded John Paul II on the papal throne in 2005
The bells of “San Pietro” announced the news of the death of Benedict XVI with a plaintive toll. “It is with sadness that we inform you that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away this morning, at 9.34 am, at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican,” announced Matteo Bruni, who is a Vatican spokesman.
17 years earlier – white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney proclaimed Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger head of the Roman Catholic Church. Germany rejoices – this is the first pope born there in 1000 years.
Ratzinger spent his childhood in the dark years of the Nazi regime. He says he was forced to join the Hitler Youth organization, but his family was never a member of the National Socialist Party.
World leaders, including Rumen Radev, paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI has the difficult task of succeeding John Paul II at the Holy See. Popular in East and West, the Polish Pope was instrumental in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the unification of Europe. His status borders on that of a pop icon. After him, Benedict’s image contrasts sharply due to his conservative views. Some call him “God’s Rottweiler.”
His years at the helm of the Holy See were marred by the “Vatileeks” corruption scandal, after which his butler was arrested. And pedophilia allegations are rocking the Roman Catholic Church.
He loves cats and Mozart, plays the piano, is a fan of the green idea: he installs solar panels on the roofs of the Vatican and travels in a hybrid popemobile. Although he is a traditionalist, he takes the most unconventional move for a pope: he refuses. After his retirement, he continued to live in the Vatican, where he spent his last days.
Benedict XVI will be buried on January 5 and the funeral service will be personally led by his successor, Pope Francis.
NOVA news – already inside Instagram, Chirping, Telegram and I vibrate – Follow us. For more news Also like our Facebook page.
![[L2-J17] Kakuta in good form, successful return for Ducrocq on loan from RC Lens](https://i0.wp.com/www.lensois.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gael_Kakuta_03102020_5.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 "[L2-J17] Kakuta in good form, successful return for Ducrocq on loan from RC Lens")