# Pope Benedict
This year
2023
# Catholic Church
Pilgrims keep streaming to Vatican to honour Pope Benedict
The former pontiff’s body is lying in state after his death on Saturday.
Last year
2022
# Vatican
Ex-pope Benedict's health serious but stable, says Vatican
Benedict, who was the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign as head of the Catholic Church, has been in fragile health for many years.
# Vatican
Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI ‘worsening’
95-year-old Benedict became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries when he stepped down in 2013.
# archbishop of Munich
Ex-pope Benedict XVI asks for forgiveness over sex abuse scandal
The 94-year-old expressed his “shame, and deep sorrow” in a letter published by the Vatican
# Pope Benedict
Former pope confirms he attended meeting in 1980 about abusive priest despite earlier denial
He says an editorial error was responsible for his previous assertion that he was not there.
All time
# Pope Benedict
Retired Pope Benedict ‘ill after visit to Germany’
Benedict has lived in a monastery in Vatican City since shortly after his retirement.
# Not In My Name
Former pope Benedict denies he co-authored controversial book arguing against lifting celibacy ban
While Benedict has sought to ease the crisis in the Vatican, Cardinal Robert Sarah has said the former pope did co-author the book.
# the two popes
Former Pope Benedict makes 'incredible' plea to Pope Francis not to end clerical celibacy
Francis is currently considering allowing it in remote locations, such as the Amazon, where communities seldom have Mass.
# sex abuse scandals
Ex-pope Benedict XVI blames clerical sex abuse on 1960s sexual revolution
Benedict has written a 6,000-word essay for Klerusblatt, a German monthly magazine for clergy.
# Pope Benedict
Vatican communications chief quits over row about letter written by retired pope
Monsignor Dario Vigano was accused of manipulating a private letter written by Benedict XVI about Pope Francis.
# Homophobia
Councillor calls for action on hate crime after being sent homophobic letter
Inside the package Francis Timmons received was a picture of Pope Benedict, a letter about World Family Day and a letter from Pope Francis.
# regensburger domspatzen
At least 231 children abused at Catholic boys' choir run by Pope Benedict's brother
George Ratzinger, Benedict’s older brother, ran the famous Regensburg choir from 1964 to 1994.
# Richard Williamson
Holocaust-denying bishop could be excommunicated for act of defiance
Bishop Richard Williamson is planning to consecrate a new Bishop without the Pope’s permission.
# Catholic Church
Former Pope Benedict defrocked nearly 400 priests in two years for child abuse
Statistics for 2011-12 show a dramatic increase over the 171 priests removed in 2008 and 2009.
# divine message
Benedict XVI: 'God told me to resign'
He is also quoted as saying that the “charisma” shown by his successor Pope Francis showed that the resignation was “God’s will”.
# RTÉ
RTÉ News chief 'satisified' with €167,000 cost of Pope coverage
Kevin Bakhurst said the cost of covering the change of Pope was €100,000 less than on the last occasion in 2005.
# Catholic Church
Pope urges Church to 'act with determination in cases of sexual abuse'
The Vatican continues to receive around 600 claims against abusive priests ever year. Today’s comments from Pope Francis were his first on the clerical sex abuse scandal since succeeding Pope Benedict last month.
# pope francis
In Pictures: Pope Francis' inauguration
In his address to the nearly 200,000 pilgrims the newly elected pope promised to embrace the “poorest, the weakest” of humanity.
# NEW POPE
The next Pope: Cardinals gather for pre-conclave talks
Cardinals gather for the general congregations today ahead of the start of the conclave to elect the next head of the Catholic Church.
# Ex Benedict
Cardinals begin process of arranging conclave to elect new pope
The tweets from the @pontifex Twitter account have been removed, with the account dormant awaiting a new pontiff.
# Ex Benedict
Benedict XVI formally steps down as leader of Catholic Church
Cardinals will now meet to elect a successor, while the 85-year-old former Joseph Ratzinger will be known as ‘Pope Emeritus’.
# All over
Last day: Benedict XVI's papal powers expire at 7pm tonight
The pontiff will depart the Vatican later today to spend the next few months at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican permanently to live a life of prayer and academic research.
# arrivederci
Benedict XVI holds final address before stepping down as pope
The 85-year-old enjoys an emotional sendoff, explaining his reasons for retiring and taking a final tour of St Peter’s Square.
# One last time
Pope to hold his final Vatican audience ahead of departure
Details of Pope Benedict’s life after his reign ends have emerged and include him swapping his trademark red shoes for a brown pair. His Fisherman’s Ring will also be destroyed.
# Pope Benedict XVI
Pope not 'abandoning the Church' as 100,000 attend Sunday prayer
An emotional Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his last Sunday prayer in St Peter’s Square in Rome.
# Ex Benedict
Report: Pope decided to resign after internal report on adultery
La Repubblica says a report presented in December detailed breaches of the ‘sixth and seventh commandments’.
Voices
Column: Pope Benedict saw sense by retiring early, John Paul II should have too
We need a pope that will listen to the wider church and wider world, writes Fr Seamus Ahearne, who reflects on the previous two popes’ achievements and failures.
# you told us
Top readers' comments of the week
Here’s our round-up of the best, the most popular and the most commented-on pieces from the past week. Did you make it in?
# new boss
Benedict's closest confidant to hold dual role under new pope
Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, the pope’s personal secretary, will keep his old job but will also oversee the new pope’s household.
# The Pope
In pictures: From Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI
The life and times of the 265th Pope.
# pope roy
Snapshot: Pope resigns, Roy Keane reckons he could do a job
Well he is infallible, right?
# Abortion
What did the Pope say about abortion yesterday?
Was Benedict referring to Ireland when he spoke of laws that “unjustly alter the balance” between mother and baby?
# Odd Couples
8 of the weirdest meetings of 2012
From Lady Gaga hanging out with Julian Assange to Tupac Shakur’s Coachella performance, here’s our shortlist of the stranger celebrity and political encounters of the year.
# Gay Marriage
Pope says mankind at stake over gay marriage
He said, “when God is denied, human dignity also disappears”.
# Vatican
Gay rights activists protest at Pope's Sunday morning prayer
Demonstrators held placards condemning homophobia after Pope Benedict said same-sex unions “destabilise marriage”.
# Follow Monday
Pope joins Twitter at @pontifex - but won't tweet until next week
Benedict XVI has registered seven accounts, each to allow tweeting in various languages – but won’t start yet.
# little donkey
What does the Pope's donkey denial mean for Christmas?
In a new book, Pope Benedict has pointed out that there were no animals present at Jesus’ birth. Way to ruin the Christmas buzz!
# Religion
Catholic bishops were shown this alarmist video in the Vatican today
A synod of bishops meeting in Rome was shown a YouTube ‘Muslim Demographics’ video which predicts an Islamic continent by 2050.
