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Tuesday 28 March 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# Pope Benedict XVI

This year
2023
# papal funeral
Former Pope Benedict XVI buried in Vatican following funeral mass this morning
Police estimated some 100,000 people would attend.
# Pope Benedict XVI
Pope praises Benedict’s ‘acute and gentle thought’ ahead of funeral
More than 130,000 people have flocked to the Vatican following Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s death on Saturday.
# Pope Benedict XVI
Pope leads New Year's services with homage to 'beloved' Benedict
Delivering his Sunday Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, the pope bowed his head in a moment of silence.
Last year
2022
# Pope Benedict XVI
Irish and world leaders pay tributes as former pope Benedict XVI dies aged 95
Benedict XVI resigned as pope in 2013.
His health had been in decline, with Pope Francis calling for prayers in recent days
Benedict will be buried in the papal tombs under St Peter's Basilica
The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life since his shock decision to step down
Pope Benedict XVI dead at 95: From the Nazi Youth to the papacy
# Catholic Church
Pope Benedict XVI dead at 95: From the Nazi Youth to the papacy
The German national became pontiff in 2005.
# Pope
Ex-pope Benedict's condition remains 'stable', Vatican says
Pope Francis said on Wednesday his predecessor was “very ill”.
All time
# all is all
Here's why people are accusing Zoolander 2 of being transphobic
People are threatening to boycott the film on account of Benedict Cumberbatch’s character.
# transphobia
Here's why people are accusing Zoolander 2 of being 'transphobic'
People are threatening to boycott the film on account of Benedict Cumberbatch’s character.
# stepping out
Former Pope Benedict makes second secret trip outside Vatican
The former pope, who promised on retirement to “live hidden from the world”, made excursion to visit brother in hospital.
# Bond Market
Vatican's 007 speaks out on money laundering
Rene Bruelhart, dubbed ‘the James Bond of the financial world’, trying to root out financial crimes in the Holy See.
# Home Sweet Home
Benedict to move back to the Vatican, two months after resignation
The Pope Emeritus is likely to return to the Vatican on Thursday, a spokesman for the Holy See said.
# Conclave
Centuries-old rituals to be carried out as conclave begins
Cardinals will be sworn in with a solemn oath that threatens anyone who reveals the deliberations of the conclave with instant excommunication.
# Habemus papam
Infographic: How is the new Pope elected?
This handy graphic from the Catholic News Agency explains all…
# pre-conclave
Frontrunners emerge in last day of pre-conclave talks
One of the cardinals in contention, Timothy Dolan, told an interviewer that anyone mentioning him as a candidate must be “smoking marijuana”.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you think the next Pope can help reinvigorate the Catholic Church?
March should see a new leader to the world’s estimated 1.2 billion Catholics, but can he make a difference?
# NEW POPE
The next Pope: Cardinals gather for pre-conclave talks
Cardinals gather for the general congregations today ahead of the start of the conclave to elect the next head of the Catholic Church.
# Ex Benedict
Cardinals begin process of arranging conclave to elect new pope
The tweets from the @pontifex Twitter account have been removed, with the account dormant awaiting a new pontiff.
# Sede Vacante
Two popes, two resignations: Benedict XVI and Celestine V‎
There’s more than a few similarities between the only two men to have resigned the papacy by choice.
# Ex Benedict
Benedict XVI formally steps down as leader of Catholic Church
Cardinals will now meet to elect a successor, while the 85-year-old former Joseph Ratzinger will be known as ‘Pope Emeritus’.
# pontifex
10 most annoying replies the Pope got on Twitter
Did @Pontifex really quit because he kept getting sass tweets?
# All over
Last day: Benedict XVI's papal powers expire at 7pm tonight
The pontiff will depart the Vatican later today to spend the next few months at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican permanently to live a life of prayer and academic research.
# When life gives you lemons...
Anyone want to buy some 2014 Pope Benedict calendars?
“This will be rare item in years to come,” said the person with a bunch of now redundant calendars.
# arrivederci
Benedict XVI holds final address before stepping down as pope
The 85-year-old enjoys an emotional sendoff, explaining his reasons for retiring and taking a final tour of St Peter’s Square.
# Retirement
Cardinal Brady 'genuinely regrets' retirement of Bishop due to ill-health
The resignation of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh, Gerard Clifford, has been accepted by Pope Benedict.
# One last time
Pope to hold his final Vatican audience ahead of departure
Details of Pope Benedict’s life after his reign ends have emerged and include him swapping his trademark red shoes for a brown pair. His Fisherman’s Ring will also be destroyed.
# Conclave
Benedict changes rules to allow Conclave to start earlier
Cardinals can now move the Conclave forward if they’re all present – but also have to take strict oaths of secrecy.
# vatileaks
Here's a secret only the new pope will see...
The Vatileaks enquiry report will be for his eyes only.
# Pope Benedict XVI
Pope not 'abandoning the Church' as 100,000 attend Sunday prayer
An emotional Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his last Sunday prayer in St Peter’s Square in Rome.
# Catholic Church
Pope Benedict will remain in 'spiritual proximity' after his resignation
Speaking ahead of his resignation next week, Pope Benedict XVI said that God’s beauty was “constantly contradicted by the evil of this world, by suffering and by corruption.”
# Ex Benedict
Report: Pope decided to resign after internal report on adultery
La Repubblica says a report presented in December detailed breaches of the ‘sixth and seventh commandments’.
# Pope resigns
Pope calls for Catholic Church to 'renew' as thousands flock to prayers
The Vatican said over 50,000 people had turned out to see the pope for his Sunday Angelus, while local authorities put the number at over 100,000.
# sacred heart
Vatican admits Pope had secret heart operation three months ago
The Vatican said the operation had nothing to do with the Pope’s decision to resign.
# Pope resigns
Eight years: A timeline of Pope Benedict's key moments
The highlights of Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy, from 2005 to today.
# Sede Vacante
Glossary: Some of the terms you'll hear during the Papal election
Because of the Ingravescentem aetatem, not all of the College of Cardinals get to fill the Petrine ministry. Didn’t you know?
# Sede Vacante
Cardinal Brady notes 'significant' date of Pope's retirement news
February 11 is the World Day of the Sick, Brady notes, asking for prayers for those responsible for choosing his successor.
# The Pope
Taoiseach extends 'best wishes' to Pope, President writes Pontiff a letter
Enda Kenny clashed with the Catholic Church in the last two years, slamming the “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism that dominates the Vatican today” after the Cloyne report in 2011.
# Reaction
Incredulity, shock and humility - The world reacts to Pope Benedict's resignation
Today’s announcement caught the world unawares. Here’s some of the initial reactions.