Come last pictures that were shown of him come from last pictures that were shown of him come from early december and they showed come from early december and they showed him looking extremely frail. and just showed him looking extremely frail. and just a showed him looking extremely frail. and just a few days ago pope francis mentioned and just a few days ago pope francis mentioned that the end of his general mentioned that the end of his general audience, mentioned that the end of his generalaudience, his health, general audience, his health, benedict s generalaudience, his health, benedict s health had deteriorated and he benedict s health had deteriorated and he appealed for people from around and he appealed for people from around the world to pray for benedict. in francis words, to sustain benedict. in francis words, to sustain him in his witness to the church sustain him in his witness to the church until sustain him in his witness to the church until the
But this is a little bit unknown. 0ne but this is a little bit unknown. one of the tributes we have just had its from cardinal vincent nichols. he said benedict was one of the great theologians of the 20th century. what do you see as his lasting legacy? century. what do you see as his lasting legacy? there is no denying he was very. lasting legacy? there is no denying he was very. very lasting legacy? there is no denying he was very, very important - he was very, very important theologian and even in these last days, but even during his retirement, his books, his writings continue to be read over and over again, to be studied. people will remember him for that, they will remember him for that, they will remember him for this period as well, i believe. this new precedent in a way that he has said that popes can resign and they can retire and we will see now going forward what people recall as people continue to
And urge people to do what they can to help. palestinian authories welcome a vote by the un general assembly to ask the international court ofjustice to give a legal opinion on the israeli occupation of palestinian territories. hello and welcome to bbc news. let s start with some breaking news. 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
Just talking about uncharted waters, how unprecedented the situation is? yes, we were speaking yesterday to the biographer of former pope benedict. who said this is the first time in benedict. who said this is the first time in the benedict. who said this is the first time in the 2000 year old history of the church time in the 2000 year old history of the church that are sitting pope, francis, the church that are sitting pope, francis, will have to bury his predecessor. as we heard, we don t have predecessor. as we heard, we don t have the predecessor. as we heard, we don t have the details as to how the funeral have the details as to how the funeral will exactly take place. but this is funeral will exactly take place. but this is very. funeral will exactly take place. but this is very, very new territory for the church this is very, very new territory for the church. we heard as well the body the church. we heard as well the body will the church. we heard as well