Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95.

His transition to immortality came almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.

He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he 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 said in a statement: “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 the former pontiff 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 appealed to his final audience of the year at the Vatican 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.

For much of his papacy, the Catholic Church faced allegations, legal claims and official reports into decades of child abuse by priests.

Earlier this year, the former Pope acknowledged that errors had been made in the handling of abuse cases while he was archbishop of Munich between 1977 and 1982.

Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger and he lived between 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022).

He was a prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State.

He served in these positions from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013.

Benedict’s election as the Pope occurred in the 2005 Papal Conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II.

Benedict chose to be known by the title, “Pope Emeritus”, upon his resignation.