Benedict XVI Latest News

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

The Latest

Archbishop Georg Gänswein in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 25, 2019.

Benedict XVI's secretary in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19

Apr 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Gänswein has been in isolation since April 11, a time period that included all of the Easter Triduum and Benedict... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 28, 2010.

5 things to know about Benedict XVI

Apr 16, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope emeritus was born on April 16, 1927. Read more

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

Benedict XVI was ‘a prophet’ of Church’s future, Pope Francis tells Malta’s Jesuits

Apr 14, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘It will be a Church that is more spiritual, poorer and less political,’ Pope Francis said. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on June 15, 2005 in Vatican City.

Catholics invited to congratulate Benedict XVI on his 95th birthday

Apr 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

The messages will be collected online and delivered to the pope emeritus. Read more

Pope Francis presents new cardinals to Benedict XVI in the chapel of the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Nov. 28, 2020.

Pope Francis visits Benedict XVI ahead of Pope emeritus’ 95th birthday

Apr 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

The two men prayed together ‘after a brief and affectionate conversation.’ Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in a 2021 file photo.

Will Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI join in the consecration of Russia and Ukraine? Here's the answer

Mar 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis has invited the bishops of the world to join him in praying for the consecration of Russia and... Read more

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, personal secretary of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, speaks to EWTN Rome Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser.

Full text: EWTN’s exclusive interview with Archbishop Gänswein

Feb 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

Benedict XVI’s personal secretary discusses the Munich abuse report. Read more

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, pictured March 27, 2019.

Here's what you need to know about Archbishop Gänswein, Benedict XVI's personal secretary

Feb 14, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Archbishop Georg Gänswein is a familiar face because of his many years of service beside now-Pope Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI,... Read more

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, personal secretary of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Gänswein tells inside story of Benedict XVI’s response to the Munich abuse report

Feb 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

Benedict XVI’s personal secretary said the 94-year-old was ‘doing well’ despite the recent media firestorm. Read more

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

Full text: Benedict XVI’s advisers analyze Munich abuse report

Feb 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

Full text of an analysis by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s advisers as to his handling of abuse cases when he... Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, pictured in summer 2017.

Full text: Benedict XVI’s letter in response to the Munich abuse report

Feb 8, 2022

By Benedict XVI

This is the full text of a letter by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI addressing the Report on Abuse in the... Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Benedict XVI asks abuse survivors for forgiveness as advisers defend handling of Munich cases

Feb 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has personally requested forgiveness from abuse survivors in a letter responding to a report that faulted... Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

German Catholic bishop: Benedict XVI did not want to cover up clerical abuse

Feb 4, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Bishop Stefan Oster noted that Benedict had fought abuse ‘against no small opposition in the Vatican.’ Read more

Cardinal Fernando Filoni. Photo credits: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Who is Benedict XVI? Cardinal Filoni shares his testimony

Jan 28, 2022

By Cardinal Fernando Filoni

‘I have never found in him any shadow or attempt to hide or minimize anything.’ Read more

The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Munich abuse report: Vatican editorial director says don’t look for ‘scapegoats’

Jan 26, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Andrea Tornielli highlighted Benedict XVI’s efforts to ‘combat pedophilia’ in the Church. Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, pictured in summer 2017.

Benedict XVI confirms he attended disputed 1980 meeting in Munich

Jan 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

A statement said that the mistake was the result of an editing error. Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI is praying for victims in wake of Munich abuse report

Jan 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘The pope emeritus ... expresses his shock and shame at the abuse of minors committed by clerics.’ Read more

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

Benedict XVI, Cardinal Marx faulted in Munich abuse report

Jan 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

The report covers 1977 to 1982, when the future Benedict XVI led the archdiocese. Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

10 things to know about Pope emeritus Benedict XVI

Jan 14, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

A recent investigative report concerning the Archdiocese of Munich has placed Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in the media spotlight again.... Read more