Former Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95

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

In 2012, Pope Benedict had expressed hope for a solution for the post war issues in Sri Lanka.

During a meeting with then President Mahinda Rajapaksa Pope Benedict expressed hope that a global joint solution may soon be found corresponding to the legitimate expectations of all the parties involved in Sri Lanka.

The Pope and Rajapaksa also discussed the contributions of the Catholic Church to the welfare of the people of Sri Lanka, especially in the fields of health care, education, and social welfare.

At an earlier meeting in 2007, the Pope had told Rajapaksa that the Catholic Church, which offers a significant contribution to the life of the country, will intensify her delicate task of forming consciences with the sole ambition of favoring the common good, reconciliation and peace.

Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, Benedict was 78 when in 2005 he became one of the oldest popes ever elected. (Colombo Gazette)