Pope Francis has praised Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's 'kindness' in his first public comments since the death of the retired pontiff.
Benedict, who shocked the world by stepping down from the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, died at the age of 95. The Vatican announced his death on Saturday.
The Vatican has only invited official delegations from Germany and Italy to participate in the funeral for Benedict. That underlines the fact that he was no longer pope and had requested a simple funeral. Benedict said his mental and physical strength had deteriorated"to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to him as"one of the most combative and significant religious thinkers of our time."
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