who was before pope francis

The pope before Pope Francis was Pope Benedict XVI. He served as the leader of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his retirement in 2013. Benedict XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in Germany, was a renowned theologian and head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before becoming pope. He was notable for emphasizing continuity in church teachings and was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. After his resignation, he lived in quiet prayer until his death in 2022