VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who surprised the world by announcing he would retire as pope, died on Dec. 31, 2022. He was 95 years old. This timeline explores the story of Pope Benedict XVI and his journey to the papacy to his death at the end of 2022.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, gives a lecture in New York in January 1988. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (CNS photo/KNA)
Joseph Ratzinger, second row at right, is pictured with his sister, Maria, brother, Georg, and parents, Maria and Joseph in this July 8, 1951, file photo. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (OSV News photo/Catholic Press Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by U.S. President George W. Bush during a welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington April 16, 2008. (CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI waves from the deck of a catamaran as he arrives to the Valletta waterfront to attend a meeting with youths in Floriana, Malta, in this April 18, 2010, file photo. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will visit the island nation of Malta April 2-3, 2022. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI reads his resignation in Latin during a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican in this Feb. 11, 2013, file photo. In a Feb. 5, 2018, letter to a journalist from an Italian newspaper, the retired pope said he has diminished physical strength and inwardly is on a "pilgrimage to Home." (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) See VATICAN-LETTER-BENEDICT Feb. 7, 2018.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to astronauts on the International Space Station after speaking with them from the Vatican via a video link May 21, 2011. The Holy See has always kept a close eye on the heavens, advocating that space exploration be ethical, just and peaceful. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters) See VATICAN-LETTER-IN-SPACE June 20, 2018.
A banner from a diocese in China is seen as Pope Benedict XVI leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this April 11, 2011, file photo. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said that Pope Benedict XVI also approved of the Vatican-China agreement on bishops that Pope Francis plans to renew. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI greets his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, during a concert for the priest's 85th birthday in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in this Jan. 17, 2009, file photo. The retired pope has declined the inheritance of his brother Georg -- who died July 1, 2020 -- so the estate goes to the Holy See. (CNS photo/Vatican Media via KNA)
Retired Pope Benedict XVI is pictured in a 2013 file photo greeting Pope Francis at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery at the Vatican. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI walks with U.S. President George W. Bush upon the pope's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington April 15, 2008. Pope Benedict ended up making 24 trips to six continents and three times presided over World Youth Day youth gatherings. (CNS photo/Jason Reed, Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI walks with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople after a prayer service in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Oct. 18, 2008. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI visits the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in the Old City of Jerusalem May 12, 2009. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rabbi of the Western Wall, is pictured third from left. The pope left a written prayer for peace in a crevice of the wall. (CNS photo/Menahem Kahana, Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI kneels in front of the crucifix during the Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 22, 2011. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims from a cruiser as he arrives on the Rhine River for World Youth Day in this Aug. 18, 2005, file photo. The Cologne cathedral is seen in the background. (OSV News photo/Catholic Press Photo, pool)
Pope Benedict XVI poses for a photo with bishops from Texas during a March 15 meeting at the Vatican. From left are: Bishop David E. Fellhauer of Victoria; Bishop Joseph S. Vasquez of Austin; Auxiliary Bishop-designate George A. Sheltz of Galveston-Houston; Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston; Pope Benedict; Bishop Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont; Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville; retired Bishop Raymundo J. Pena of Brownsville; Bishop W. Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi; and Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, the apostolic administrator of Tyler. Bishops from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) (March 15, 2012) See ADLIMINA-UNITY March 15, 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI speaks with Emrullah Hatipoglu, imam of the Blue Mosque, as he arrives to visit the mosque in Istanbul, in this Nov. 30, 2006, file photo. The pope's unexpected prayer next to Mustafa Cagrici, the grand mufti of Istanbul, in the mosque soothed anger in the Muslim world over a quote about Islam in his Sept. 12, 2006, lecture in Regensburg, Germany. It was only the second time a pope had entered a mosque. (CNS photo/Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters) (Nov. 30, 2006) See VATICAN LETTER to come.
Pope Benedict XVI appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after his election April 19, 2005. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican.(CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Pope Benedict XVI visit the former Auschwitz death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, May 29, 2006. "To speak in this place of horror, in this place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man is almost impossible -- and it is particularly difficult and troubling for a Christian, for a pope from Germany," he said at the time. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (OSV News photo/Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 21, 2007. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI reaches out to people after celebrating Mass at Nationals Park in Washington April, 17, 2008. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Pope Benedict XVI is pictured during Mass in Yankee Stadium in New York in this April 20, 2008, file photo. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95. (CNS photo/CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)
Pope Benedict XVI greets World Youth Day pilgrims in Sydney July 17, 2008. Behind him is Cardinal George Pell, then archbishop of Sydney. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Then-Msgr. Georg Ganswein places a red hat on Pope Benedict XVI as the pontiff arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this Oct. 6, 2010, file photo. Archbishop Gänswein has written a book about his life with the late pope and his own difficult relationship with Pope Francis. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 20, 2011. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child during his visit to the Missionaries of Charity Peace and Joy Center in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 19, 2011. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle in a window overlooking the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on Christmas Eve at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2011. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
A likeness of Cuban Revolution hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara is seen in the background as Pope Benedict XVI leaves after celebrating Mass in Revolution Square in Havana in this March 28, 2012, file photo. The Vatican announced April 22 that Pope Francis will visit Cuba in September before his trip to the United States. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-CUBA April 22, 2015.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful as he arrives to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 1, 2012. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Benedict XVI and his personal secretary, then-Msgr. Georg Gänswein, are seen at the pope's general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this Sept. 26, 2012, file photo. Archbishop Gänswein has written a book about his life with the late pope and his own difficult relationship with Pope Francis. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
