good morning. the vatican has announced the death of pope benedict xvi at the age of 95. his health had been worsening in recent weeks. benedict served as head of the roman catholic church for eight years until 2013, when he became the first pope in 600 years to announce his retirement. he was german by birth, and was known for his conservative theological outlook. vatican spokesman, matteo bruni, said in a statement. bells tolling this was the moment of the confirmation of his death in rome, you can hear the bells ringing in st peter s square in vatican city. the vatican says pope benedict s body will lie in state from monday in st peter s basilica. let s go straight to our europe correspondent, bethany bell. we can see some crowd behind you, how have people reacted to the news of the death of the former pope? we of the death of the former pope? - spoke to one couple from spain who were here in the square as tourists and they said that their tour guide told them the news and
benedict. it is a great tradition of the catholic faith that we can pray for the dead, we can, as it were, beseech god to be merciful in his judgment so that they may now enter into the fullness of god s presence. the fullness of god s presents is what we are created for. and this passage, now, from death into god s presents, we can only think of it in terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, forfor he terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, for for he to, terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, forfor he to, like every human, needs forgiveness. we pray that he will be living lee embraced by the heavenly father and given that place in the kingdom of heaven for which we pray for everybody. heaven for which we pray for everybody- heaven for which we pray for eve bod . ., ., . . ., , everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank ou everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank you so everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank you so much. we will return t