The death and funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Gone quiet · last story Jan 8, 2023

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to resign, died at the Vatican on December 31, 2022, at 95.[1] Pope Francis led his funeral in St. Peter's Square in January 2023, an event unprecedented in modern times.[2]

What this arc covers

The final days, death and funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to retire: the Vatican's December 2022 updates on his worsening health, his death on December 31 at 95, his body lying in state, the funeral Pope Francis led in January 2023, the first time in modern times a pope presided over his predecessor's funeral, the tributes, and the book by his longtime aide.

Earliest story we hold Dec 28, 2022 · 14 stories · 100 independent sources (counted once each) · 11 days

Part ofVatican CityPope FrancisJoe BidenCatholicsRomeSt. Peter's Basilica

Background

In late December 2022, the Vatican said the frail 95-year-old's health had worsened, and Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for him.[3] The Vatican then described his condition as serious but stable,[4] and he took part in a private Mass in his room.[5] After his death, tens of thousands of people paid their respects during three days of lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica.[6] At the funeral, Francis bowed his head and placed his hand on Benedict's casket before it was carried away,[2] and Benedict was buried on January 5 in the tomb beneath the basilica once occupied by Pope John Paul II.[7] The publisher of a book by his longtime personal secretary promised that it would expose "dark maneuvers" and "blatant calumnies" that sullied his reputation.[8]

Supporting stories (8)
  1. Benedict XVI, first pope to retire in 600 years, dies at 95
  2. Pope Francis leads funeral for predecessor Benedict XVI, a first in modern times
  3. Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI 'worsening'
  4. Vatican: Benedict XVI lucid, stable, but condition 'serious'
  5. Vatican: Benedict in stable condition, participated in Mass
  6. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's body lies in state at Vatican
  7. Public Now Can See Benedict's Tomb at St. Peter's Basilica
  8. Benedict aide's tell-all book will expose 'dark maneuvers'

Overview updated Oct 8, 2026

Part of The papacy

  1. The death and funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVIThis arcDec 28, 2022 – Jan 8, 2023
  2. Pope Francis's health struggles and his death on Easter Monday 2025Feb 23, 2023 – Apr 26, 2025
  3. The 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIVApr 21 – May 25, 2025
  4. Pope Leo XIV's criticism of Trump and their feud over IranMay 8, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
  5. Pope Leo XIV's September 2026 trip to FranceSep 18 – Sep 30, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jan 82023Public Now Can See Benedict's Tomb at St. Peter's Basilica15 articles · 11 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 1 right
Jan 62023Biden Pays Respects to Benedict XVI at Vatican Embassy in Washington: ‘It's a Great Honor'13 articles · 8 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 3 right
Jan 52023Thousands pour into St. Peter's for funeral of Benedict XVI41 articles · 11 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Dec 28, 2022Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI 'worsening'69 articles · 38 independent sources
  2. Dec 29, 2022Vatican: Benedict XVI lucid, stable, but condition 'serious'32 articles · 23 independent sources
  3. Dec 31, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023Benedict XVI, first pope to retire in 600 years, dies at 95194 articles · 82 independent sources
  4. Dec 31, 2022 – Jan 6, 2023Pope Francis leads funeral for predecessor Benedict XVI, a first in modern times72 articles · 38 independent sources
    1. Dec 31, 2022Only center coverage:Pope Francis to lead unique funeral for ex-pope Benedict
    2. Jan 4, 2023Catholics in the US unite to mourn Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
    3. Jan 6, 2023PolitiFact - Pope Benedict wanted a simple funeral. There’s no evidence he asked that Biden not attend
  5. Jan 2, 2023Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's body lies in state at Vatican89 articles · 37 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Dec 26Jan 2

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Dec 26, 202214418314
Jan 2, 2023172810243

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

25% left · 62% center · 13% right of 100 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 14 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. December 2022

    Dec 28Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI 'worsening'69 articles · 38 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 4 right
  2. Dec 29– 30Vatican: Benedict in stable condition, participated in Mass7 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  3. Dec 29Vatican: Benedict XVI lucid, stable, but condition 'serious'32 articles · 23 independent sources
    5 left, 8 center, 1 right
  4. Dec 31– Jan 6Pope Francis leads funeral for predecessor Benedict XVI, a first in modern times72 articles · 38 independent sources
    8 left, 15 center, 1 right
  5. Dec 31– Jan 4Pope Francis praises ‘gentle’ Benedict ahead of funeral14 articles · 14 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
  6. Dec 31– Jan 1Benedict XVI, first pope to retire in 600 years, dies at 95194 articles · 82 independent sources
    11 left, 23 center, 7 right

  7. January 2023

    Jan 1Pope Francis Prays for Benedict on New Year's Day15 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  8. Jan 2Benedict aide's tell-all book will expose 'dark maneuvers'5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 1 right
  9. Jan 2Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's body lies in state at Vatican89 articles · 37 independent sources
    5 left, 11 center, 3 right
  10. Jan 3– 5Why isn't Biden attending Pope Benedict's funeral?9 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 6 right
  11. Jan 4US bishops' rifts unlikely to ease after Benedict's death6 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 0 right
  12. Jan 5Thousands pour into St. Peter's for funeral of Benedict XVI41 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  13. Jan 6Biden Pays Respects to Benedict XVI at Vatican Embassy in Washington: ‘It's a Great Honor'13 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 3 right
  14. Jan 8Public Now Can See Benedict's Tomb at St. Peter's Basilica15 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right