The Vatican confirmed it on Saturday Pope Benedict XVIAlso known as Pope Emeritus, he died at the age of 95. His failing health over the years forced his resignation in 2013.
He became the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. In 2020, he will become the oldest living Pope, surpassing Pope Leo XVIII.
However, Leo continued to play the role until his death at the age of 93. Benedict resigned as Pope at age 87In short, no Pope has outlived Benedict, but Leo remains the oldest person to hold the position of Pope.
Although Benedict resigned due to ill health, he was able to spend his later years quietly studying and praying at the Vatican. Although he rarely appears in public with his successor, Pope Francis, he is believed to maintain significant influence within the Pope.
Who are the other longest-living popes?
Pope Leo XIII is the oldest pope in office and the second oldest pope after Benedict. In 1903, Leo died at the age of 93 and he was 140 days old, making him the third longest-serving pope in history.
He First pope whose voice was recorded and filmedIn fact, born in 1810, he is reported to be the first-born person recorded on film.
Behind Benedict and Leo is the longest-lived Pope of all time.
Pope Clement XII – 87 years and 30 days
Pope Clement X – 86 years and 9 days
Pope Pius IX – 85 years and 270 days
Innocent XII – 85 years and 107 days
Pope John Paul II – 84 years and 46 days
Papal reign is generally a lifelong position held by the incumbent until his death. Before Benedict decided to voluntarily resign in 2013, This has been the case since Pope Gregory XII in 1405.
Gregory’s short nine-year tenure as head of the Catholic Church ended with a split within the organization.
