Statement on the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has noted with sadness, the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on Saturday 31 December 2022 at the age of 95.

Former Pope Benedict was Head of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013 due to ill health.

Born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, he was ordained as a Priest in 1951 and he became Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977, the same year he became Cardinal.  In 1981 he was summoned to Rome where he became Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position he held for 25 years until he was chosen to be the Pope.

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff said, “As Chair of the Council, I have opened a Book of Condolence to facilitate those residents who wish to express their sympathy and thoughts on the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

His passing will be keenly felt by very many people in our Council District, indeed throughout Ireland and the world over.”

The online book of condolence will be open on the Council’s website, www.fermanaghomagh.com, from today, 31 December 2022 to Monday 16 January 2023.