Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013 marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church, making him the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to step down (the last was Gregory XII in 1415).
Officially, he expressed a “lack of strength of mind and body” that hindered his ability to fulfil the demanding role of the papacy. Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI on 19 April 2005, succeeding Pope John Paul II and his resignation opened the door for his successor, Pope Francis, who was elected on 13 March 2013.
Currently, Pope Francis is facing significant health challenges, remaining in a critical condition as he is treated for bronchitis and pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, with many questioning if he will be able to continue his papacy.
The Vatican has reported slight improvements in his health; however, he is also dealing with respiratory and kidney issues. It clarified that a “slight” kidney problem is not a cause for concern, following his admission to the hospital over a week ago.
Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI on 19 April 2005, succeeding Pope John Paul II as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a speech delivered in Latin to his cardinals at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, Benedict explained: “I recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.” This admission raised eyebrows, particularly given the backdrop of significant challenges facing the Church at the time, including the sexual abuse scandals that had begun to tarnish its reputation globally.
Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze suggested that Benedict’s resignation may have been influenced by external pressures, including the infamous “Vatileaks” scandal. This incident involved the leak of private correspondence, which revealed infighting within the Vatican, potentially contributing to the Pope’s feelings of isolation and frustration.
Moreover, there were reports that Benedict lacked the reformist zeal necessary to confront the entrenched interests within the Church, particularly as it grappled with financial scandals and the need for modernisation. Father Federico Lombardi, Benedict’s press secretary, noted that “the Church needed someone with more physical and spiritual energy” to address the complex challenges of leading the institution in an ever-changing world.
During his papacy, Benedict had taken significant steps to address the sexual abuse crisis, including meeting with victims and overseeing the defrocking of numerous priests. However, accusations later emerged alleging that he had failed to act on cases of abuse during his tenure as archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. A German law firm claimed that he had been informed about instances of abuse but had chosen not to take action.
The former pope had denied the allegations against him, with his spokesperson stating that he “takes the fates of the abuse victims very much to heart” and is fully “in favour of the publication of the Munich report.” A church-commissioned study released some years ago revealed that at least 3,677 individuals were abused by German clergy between 1946 and 2014, with the majority of victims being under the age of 13.
As the global sexual abuse scandal severely impacted the Church at the start of the new millennium, the former pope took significant measures to confront the issue. He dismissed Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, a prominent Mexican priest often accused of abuse, and made history in 2008 by meeting with victims personally. Additionally, he issued a heartfelt apology in a pastoral letter to Ireland and supervised the defrocking of 384 offending priests between 2011 and 2012, as reported by The New Yorker.
He died on 31 December 2022 at the age of 95. His passing occurred in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City, where he had lived since his resignation.