Benedict XVI Latest News

Read the latest news regarding the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, his life, and his legacy.

The Latest

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the Beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, in Vatican City, Rome.

The most frequently asked questions about Pope Benedict XVI

Dec 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

The news that Pope Benedict XVI is ill has sparked renewed interest in the details of his pontificate and his... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI greets Colombian Cardinal Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal at the retired pope's Vatican residence on Aug. 27, 2022.

Vatican shares prayer for Benedict XVI’s health

Dec 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray for the “very ill” pope emeritus. Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Nov. 9, 2022

Vatican: Benedict XVI under medical care as health takes sudden turn

Dec 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis visited the 95-year-old pope emeritus after his Wednesday general audience. Read more

Pope Francis visits Benedict XVI on Aug. 27th, 2022

Pope Francis: Pray for a ‘very ill’ Benedict XVI

Dec 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is 95 years old. Read more

Pope Francis visits Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City to exchange Christmas greetings Dec. 23, 2013.

Pope Francis: Benedict XVI was ‘leader’ in responding to sexual abuse

Nov 28, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis said his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was a leader in “taking responsibility” and responding with transparency to... Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Nov. 9, 2022

Benedict XVI tells Ukrainian archbishop: ‘I continue to pray for peace’

Nov 10, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

“The power of prayer keeps the Ukrainian people alive, so I ask you to continue praying for peace in Ukraine.” Read more

Natalia Tsarkova works on a portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in her studio in central Rome.

From ‘real life’: Papal artist unveils painting of Benedict XVI as pope emeritus

Nov 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The artist unveiled the painting, which took four years to create, during a ceremony on Nov. 3 in Palazzo Cesi,... Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Benedict XVI reflects on Vatican II in new letter

Oct 21, 2022

By AC Wimmer, Shannon Mullen

The letter provides fresh observations from one of the few remaining theologians to have personally participated in Vatican II, which... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI writes about ‘inner drama of being a Christian’ in new letter

Sep 23, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In a new letter, Benedict XVI praised the story of a woman who lived “the inner drama of being a... Read more

Queen Elizabeth II attend the Trooping of the Colour in London, England, June 16, 2012. | Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster delivering a speech at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Aug. 23, 2018.

Updated: Cardinal Nichols pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death at 96

Sep 8, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

“Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

International website dedicated to Benedict XVI aims to be a ‘beacon in stormy seas’

Aug 30, 2022

By AC Wimmer

After a website dedicated to Benedict XVI received thousands of congratulations in 24 languages on the occasion of his 95th... Read more

Pope Francis in April 2022

A question of ‘delicate balance’: How might Pope Francis reform the rules of the conclave?

Aug 25, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Who will manage the Vatican when a pope resigns, is unable to govern, or passes away? And according to which... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Former Vatican spokesman: Benedict XVI is ready to meet the Lord

Aug 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

Father Federico Lombardi said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is ready for... Read more

Pope Francis with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae in Vatican City on June 30, 2015.

The pope emeritus puzzle: Will Pope Francis rewrite the rules of resignation?

Jul 20, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

With speculation running rife whether Pope Francis could step down, it is worth analyzing what the pope has actually said... Read more

Father Juan Manuel Góngora of Almería, Spain, speaks with EWTN Spanish News July 12, 2022, about the need for better verification criteria for online news.

What to do when there's fake news such as the 'death' of Benedict XVI: A priest responds

Jul 14, 2022

By Walter Sanchez Silva

Father Juan Manuel Góngora of Almería, Spain, said the latest online hoax is “one more proof” of the need for... Read more

Pope Francis on July 12, 2022, said the knee pain he experienced for several months “scared me, in the sense of ‘think a little about what your future is going to be like now.’”

Pope Francis rules out living in the Vatican or Argentina if he resigns

Jul 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

In an interview with Univisión and Televisa broadcast July 12, the pope said that “for the moment,” he hasn’t considered... Read more

Credit: © L’Osservatore Romano

Twitter hoaxer raises alarm with false report of Benedict XVI's passing

Jul 11, 2022

By CNA Staff

Italian Tommasso De Benedetti has created bogus Twitter accounts before to fool people. Read more

Archbishop Gänswein and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI

Archbishop Gänswein moved to tears over Benedict XVI's comment about journey to heaven

Jul 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope emeritus’ personal secretary recalled the words during a June celebration organized by the Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI Foundation... Read more

The Frauenkirche, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Germany’s Munich archdiocese spent around $1.5 million on abuse report

May 23, 2022

By CNA Staff

The report, published in January, faulted Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Reinhard Marx. Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, pictured in summer 2017.

Benedict XVI: 95th birthday wishes from around world ‘made me very happy’

May 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

Almost 3,000 people sent the pope emeritus congratulatory messages in 24 languages. Read more