who was the pope before francis

The pope before Pope Francis was Pope Benedict XVI. He served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from April 19, 2005, until his resignation on February 28, 2013. Benedict XVI was known for his theological depth and conservative stance, and he was the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, citing health concerns and advanced age as reasons for stepping down. His papacy focused on maintaining traditional Catholic teachings and addressing internal Church challenges, setting the stage for Pope Francis's later leadership