News
The Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI; dead at 95 years old
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Rome, January 11, 2023 – Known for his humility and as one of the only Popes in recent history to step down from the post Pope Benedict XVI died on December 31st at 95 years old. The former head of the Catholic Church served in the top position for nearly eight years. A stricter contrast to the sitting Pope Francis, Benedict’s record of service would come to be characterized by the latter years and his mismanagement of the child abuse scandals that rocked the Catholic Church.
Born in 1927 his birth name was Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, a German citizen by birth he became a professor of Theology while he was a priest and moved up in the Catholic Church’s ranks remarkably swiftly become a close
There have been countless child abuse accusations leveled at the Catholic church in the last 50 years alone and many broke in the late 20th century before Benedict’s ascension to Pope. A report in 2002 by a US Newspaper revealing hundreds of sexual abuse reports against one priest who was moved around after assaulting children caused outrage among US citizens and the world.
Two decades later, a 2022 report alleges Benedict himself moved around several clergymen who were accused of sexual assault to new areas effectively blocking justice, an accusation which he denied. He was previously accused of knowing about the abuse and being too slow to act, which he also denied. Benedict apologized to victims and punished some of the most notorious offenders and while he is credited with taking several steps to rectify the issues, many came too late for victims.
In February 2013 citing his failing health and mind he voluntarily gave up his position, the first pope to do so in hundreds of years. Pope Benedict was a well-loved teacher and pianist, he was also accused of worsening the HIV crises with his anti-condom rhetoric.
He lived out the rest of his days at a monastery in Rome.