Former Pope Benedict XVI, whose resignation shook the Catholics, dies at 95

Benedict XVI, who shocked the world’s 1.2 billion followers of the Roman Catholic Church when he became the first pope to resign in almost six centuries, has died. He was 95.
 

Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence, the official Vatican News agency said on Twitter.

Benedict relinquished the leadership of the church in 2013, saying that he no longer had the “strength of mind and body” to fulfill his duties. He was succeeded by Argentine-born Pope Francis the following month and took the first-ever title of pope emeritus.

The end to Benedict’s almost eight-year