Former pope Benedict XVI on Saturday, the last day of 2022 dies at the age of 95 after stepping down as Pope almost a decade due to declining health challenges.

Thet Vatican made the announcement few hours ago.

Benedict XVI is the first pontiff to resign in office as Pope in the last six centuries.

His successor, Pope Francis had on Wednesday asked the general public for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict due to his recent days of worsening health condition.

“I want to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who sustains the Church in his silence. He is very sick. We ask the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church to the very end”, Pope Francis said.

Vatican Spokesperson, Matteo Bruni in a statement not too long ago, said:

“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican”.

German born Pope Benedict whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his shock decision to step down in February 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI death brings to an end an unprecedented situation in which two “men in white” — Benedict and Francis — had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city state.