Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

Date: February 28, 2013 • Location: Rome, Italy

Benedict XVI became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the papacy.

Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Following his resignation, he chose to be known as "pope emeritus", a title he held until his death on 31 December 2022. In addition to this, he was an important philosopher and theologian of the 20th and early 21st centuries.