Former Pope Benedict XVI died on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican, a spokesman for the Holy See 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. Further information will be provided as soon as possible," the spokesman said in a written statement. He had also spent his final years at the monastery, where his successor Pope Francis had visited him frequently, the BBC reported.
"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. Further information will be provided as soon as possible."
Holy See spokesman
He died at the age of 95 at his Vatican residence, BBC reported. He led the Catholic Church for eight years until 2013 when he had to step down due to health issues.
Benedict had fallen extremely ill before his passing
The Vatican had said in a statement on Wednesday that the former Pope had suffered a sudden "worsening" of his health. His announcement reportedly shocked the Catholic world, according to multiple sources, and also made him the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
"I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the Church," Francis said, who also replaced him as the head of the Catholic Church.
Doctors were consistently monitoring his condition until his death, Sky News reported. The report also quoted the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, who said before the announcement of Benedict's death that the former pope would be remembered as "one of the great theologians of the 20th century."
The Vatican said his body will lie in state from Monday in St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican has painstakingly elaborate rituals for what happens after a reigning pope dies but no publicly known ones for a former pope.
Benedict had been the first German pope in 1,000 years.
Pope Benedict's funeral will be held in St. Peter's Square on Thursday, Jan. 5 and will be presided over by Pope Francis, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Saturday.