Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, citing his advanced age and declining physical and mental strength as reasons for stepping down from the papacy, a rare event as he was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years
. After his resignation, he took the title "Pope Emeritus" and lived in a monastery within the Vatican Gardens, choosing to be known simply as "Father Benedict" while retaining his papal name
. His resignation surprised many, as it was announced in Latin without prior warning, and it paved the way for the election of Pope Francis
. Benedict’s decision was influenced by his inability to cope with the demands of the office, including health issues such as persistent insomnia, which he revealed to his biographer as a central motive for his resignation
. Following his resignation, Benedict lived a life of prayer and relative seclusion, occasionally emerging for special events and writing. He faced some controversy in retirement, including criticism over his handling of sexual abuse cases during his time as archbishop of Munich and comments linking clerical abuse to the sexual revolution of the 1960s
. Pope Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in the Vatican. His funeral was celebrated by Pope Francis, marking a unique event of a current pope presiding over the funeral of a former pope
