Pope Francis asking prayers for Pope Benedict.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Doesn't sound good. 😰 But he's 96 and has certainly earned his eternal reward.

Aaah he is ready to take his place in heaven. Prayers just needed for a peaceful transition I guess.

Yes. Feels slightly like when the Queen died. But less of a shock as he's been very frail for a while. Whereas she seemed immortal.

Prayers for a peaceful passing 🙏
I somehow didn't fully appreciate he was already in his mid 90s. I vividly remember watching the TV and waiting for news of Pope John Paul's successor back in the mid 00s.

Pope Benedict has died this morning. No papal conclave to follow, funeral on Thursday.

I didn't understand why the BBC had an article a few days ago saying that the church has a dilemma, as this situation hasn't happened for 600 years. There is no dilemma, he'll have a funeral. Francis will celebrate it. And that's that.

I had only been a catholic a week when JP2 died. So it was a wonderful introduction to the universal church, having a conclave etc just a couple weeks later.