a warm welcome to bbc news. the former pope, benedict xvi, has died at the age of 95. the vatican says he passed away this morning at his residence there. 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. bell chimes this was the moment his death was confirmed in rome 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 and that pope francis will lead the funeral on january 5th. the first pope to do so in recorded history. here s our religon editor, aleem maqbool. cerebral by character, benedict was a prolific author and more at home with scholarship than pastoral work. he led the world s catholics for eight years and then abruptly resigned, the first pop
previously. in the church then we had previously- previously. he made this announcement previously. he made this announcement very - previously. he made this . announcement very abruptly previously. he made this - announcement very abruptly that previously. he made this announcement very abruptly that he was going to retire and that therefore there would be a vacancy before he died. how much do you think his decision was influenced by his experience of seeing the decline of his predecessorjohn paul ii? i think that is true. he did not want to be a public figure in decline as john paul ii was and he truly believed that the church can go on without him. he was a humble man and he trusted in the holy spirit and when he got to the point where he was physically and mentally incapable of doing the job, was physically and mentally incapable of doing thejob, he was physically and mentally incapable of doing the job, he felt that was a signal from god that it was time to go and to pass the
since standing down in 2007. his predecessorjohn major had to wait around eight years, so often people are kept waiting, although few as long as tony blair. chris mason. a deliberately modest state funeral has taken place in south africa for one of the heroes of the struggle against apartheid, archbishop desmond tutu. speaking during the ceremony in cape town, the south african president, cyril ramaphosa, described desmond tutu as the spiritual father of the nation. from cape town, our correspondent nomsa maseko reports. family, friends and politicians bidding farewell to a man who became one of the most important voices of the 20th century. this was a final sendoff for archbishop desmond tutu, following a week of events to honour him. speakers shared memories of the anglican priest who did
the way it works, each year they go to windsor castle for a shindig and they wear a lot of velvet and indeed some ostrich feathers and they proceed through a procession through windsor and they have lunch. it is the most senior title that can be offered by the queen. former prime minister tony blair having to wait 15 years almost, since standing down in 2007. his predecessorjohn major had to wait around eight years, so often people are kept waiting, although few as long as tony blair. chris mason, there. the latest headlines on bbc news.. as england reports another record number of daily coronavirus cases health officials warn the days ahead will be crucial as hospitalisations continue to rise.
since standing down in 2007. his predecessorjohn major had to wait around eight years, so often people are kept waiting, although few as long as tony blair. chris mason, there. police have identified a 15 year old boy who was stabbed to death in south london. zeyean amarblay lina was found in ashburton park in croydon on thursday evening, but was prononounced dead at the scene. another 15 year old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder, but has since been released on bail. police say they re working around the clock to give zaian s family the answers they deserve. the latest headlines on bbc news. new year honours for leading figures in the battle against covid. professors chris whitty and jonathan van tam are knighted. drjenny harries and drjune raine are both made dames. further covid restrictions in england must be an absolute last resort , according to health secretary, sajid javid.