Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95.
Gatekeepers News reports he died almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.
Benedict, who led the Catholic Church for less than eight years resigned in 2013 and became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican.
His successor Pope Francis said he had visited him there frequently.
The Vatican, while announcing the death of the former pontiff 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.”
Although Benedict had been ill for some time, the Holy See said there had been an aggravation in his condition because of advancing age.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis while addressing his final audience of the year at the Vatican, appealed to them to “pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict”, whom he said was very ill.
Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, Benedict was 78 when in 2005 he became one of the oldest popes ever elected.
