Benedict XVI has died

[sprite75]

The former Pope died at the age of 95 this morning

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Bavarian-born theologian whose conservative Roman Catholicism earned him the nickname "God's Rottweiler" and who shocked his flock by suddenly resigning the papacy after just eight years, died Saturday, the Vatican said.

Benedict was the longest-living pope, having surpassed Pope Leo XIII in September 2020.

"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," the Vatican said in a statement early Saturday. No cause of death was provided. "Further information will be provided as soon as possible," the statement said.

The Vatican said Benedict's remains would be on public display in St. Peter's Basilica starting Monday, with his funeral to be held on Thursday, Jan. 5 in St. Peter's Square.

[indianasmith]

I am not a Catholic but I have a deep respect for this man; not the least for choosing to resign when he grew too old to do the job.

[Morpheus, the unwoke.]

I'm not catholic but was glad to see Benedict replaced by a far better man, imo, so I commend him for retiring, which was a historical move.

[WingedSerpent]

I am Catholic, so this was kind of sad to hear about.  I do like our current pope more-but still.  I didn't hate him, but I'm kind of glad he stepped down.

[ER]

I've heard it snidely suggested he may well be remembered as the last Catholic Pope.

I also saw a roundtable discussion about him on EWTN last night and those who knew him said in private he was the gentlest and kindest of men, so apparently he primarily came off as "God's Rottweiler" in the eyes of those who opposed him.

I think there was integrity in his decision to resign his office, and I missed him, because in terms of pure intellect I suspect he was likely the most intelligent, scholarly pontiff in centuries. If you've read his writings, there is a depth to them that compares itself to Aquinas. The books of JP2 I had to read in school struck me as more the product of an idealist who felt his way through life emotionally rather than that of a man who surrendered himself up to a purely intellectual approach to the faith, as Benedict surely did. (JP2's  mantra of "Fear Not" seemed almost misleading to me in a world where there's a great deal to be afraid of, and fear was sometimes a wise and motivating reaction.)

However good a man Francis may be, I think a great deal of his popularity (which strikes me as much wider than it is deep) may relate to the fact he has been so pliable, when it is not strictly the job of a Pope to bend with the wind. Benedict did not bend with pressure, nor was JP2 famous for doing so.

Anyway, yes, he is gone, peace be with him, and I think history may be kinder to his memory than many alive during his papacy might have suspected.

[Dr. Whom]

Also played by Anthony Hopkins in The Two Popes (2019) which I can recommend

[Allhallowsday]

Rest in Peace, Benedict XVI.  God bless you. 
 
Long live Pope Francis!