Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI. Photo: AFP

The former pope's health had worsened in the past few days. Pope Francis visited him in person and asked the faithful to pray for Benedict.

Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, he was made a cardinal in 1977 and became Pope at the Vatican in 2005 at the age of 78 after the death of Pope John Paul II.

In 2013, citing health reasons, he resigned and became Pope Emeritus. He was the first Pope to resign since 1415. He had rarely appeared in public, but his health had always been a matter of concern to the faithful.