Benedict XVI, whose renunciation in 2013 took the whole world by surprise, died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the monastery in the Vatican gardens where he had retired.
After the announcement in "pain" of his death by the Vatican this morning, heads of state and religious leaders around the world pay tribute to the pope emeritus.
Read alsoBenedict XVI, the iron pope who had renounced, died at 95
French President Emmanuel Macron quickly addressed his "thoughts to the Catholics of France and the world" who are losing the former head of their church "who worked with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world".
My thoughts go out to Catholics in France and around the world, bereaved by the departure of His Holiness Benedict XVI, who worked with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 31, 2022
"His lucid intelligence, his ability to contemplate and speak the goodness of God, his tireless search for truth and his inner freedom, have been lights for decades", praised Bishop de Moulins-Beaufort, the president of the Conference of Bishops of France and Archbishop of Reims.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pays tribute to "a singular church leader", a "combative personality" and an "intelligent theologian", but without omitting "a controversial personality".
Als „deutscher“ #Papst war #BenediktXVI.
für viele nicht nur hierzulande ein besonderer Kirchenführer.
Die Welt verliert eine prägende Figur der katholischen Kirche, eine streitbare Persönlichkeit und einen klugen Theologen.
Meine Gedanken sind bei Papst Franziskus.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) December 31, 2022
The head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni salutes "a giant of faith and reason" while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "saddened" by the disappearance of the "great theologian".
The health of the German theologian had deteriorated in recent days, but the Vatican had indicated on Friday that his condition was "stationary" and that he had participated in the celebration of Mass in his room on Thursday.
The funeral of the 265th pope should be celebrated by his successor Francis in Rome, an unprecedented event in the two thousand year history of the Catholic Church which tens of thousands of people could attend, including heads of state.