When Pope Benedict XVI—born Joseph Ratzinger—shocked the world by announcing his resignation in February, speculation ran rampant. Why would a sitting pope step down, breaking a tradition that had lasted nearly years?
Benedict, who became pope in at age, cited his advanced age and declining strength as the official reason for his decision, stating he could no longer adequately fulfill the demands of the papacy. However, in a private letter revealed by his biographer, Benedict disclosed that chronic insomnia was the central motive behind his resignation. He had struggled with sleeplessness since, and medical advice forced him to limit his public appearances, making it clear he could not continue his duties.
His resignation created a historic scenario: for the first time in centuries, a pope emeritus lived alongside his successor, Pope Francis, within the Vatican walls. Benedict spent his remaining years quietly at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.
On December, 202, Benedict XVI died at the age of in his Vatican residence. His passing marked the end of an era for the Catholic Church and closed the chapter on one of the most extraordinary papacies in modern history. Pope Francis led his funeral, honoring a man who described himself as a “humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord”9.
