He used his position to redirect the world's focus on faith in an era of secularization. The first German pope in a thousand years, Benedict – born Joseph Ratzinger – was a theologian and writer devoted to history and tradition, who was elected to succeed Pope John Paul II. The then-85-year-old thus became the first pope in 600 years to resign. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (April 16, 1927-December 31, 2022) stunned the world in 2013 when he announced, after eight years in office, that he lacked the strength to continue as head of the Catholic Church. The Associated Press contributed to this gallery. | Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis via Getty ImagesĪ look back at the esteemed personalities who left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.īy senior producer David Morgan. Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by the faithful in Les Combes in 2005.
