this is bbc news. welcome, if you're watching here in the uk, or around the globe. the former pope, benedict xvi, has died at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ill health. bells tolling the bells toll in st peter's square as the vatican announces the former pope's body will lie in state from monday in saint peter's basilica. pope benedict led the catholic church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first pope in 600 years to resign. this is the scene live in vatican city, where the former pope lived since 2013.

good morning. 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 theological outlook. vatican spokesman, matteo bruni, said in a statement... bells tolling

this was the moment of the confirmation of his death in rome, you can hear 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. let's go straight to our europe correspondent, bethany bell. we can see some crowd behind you, how have people reacted to the news of the death of the former pope? we of the death of the former pope? - spoke to one couple from spain who were here in the square as tourists and they said that their tour guide told them the news and they had a sense of bewilderment, a sense that this was an unprecedented, historical situation. and we then

spoke to another couple from, two women from bologna, who were in rome on holiday and they said as soon as they heard the news, they came here to saint peter's square to pray for the pope. there is a sombre mood here, some of the people are tourists, others have come to pay their respects. there had been concerns for some time, of course, about the health of the former pope benedict xvi. he has been known to be in poor health for some time and just a few days ago, pope francis announced at the end of his general audience that his health had taken a turn for the worse and he had asked catholics around the world to pray for him. in his words, to sustain him in his witness to the church until the end. and now, the news has come of his death, at 9:30am at local time. come of his death, at 9:30am at localtime. people come of his death, at 9:30am at local time. people will be coming

here to pay their respects, as you say, on monday, people will be able to go to saint peter's basilica to pay their respects to his body which will be lying there in state but we don't know yet the details of the funeral because this is an unprecedented situation for the church. we were told by the biographer of benedict that it is the first time in the 2000 year history of the church that a sitting pope will be burying his predecessor, because of course, pope benedict, back in 2013, became the first pope in 600 years to resign. this is now new territory for the church and people will be watching very carefully to see how the funeral plans unfold.- very carefully to see how the funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethan , funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethany. we _ funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethany, we will— funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethany, we will be _ funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethany, we will be getting - funeral plans unfold. that's right. bethany, we will be getting more | bethany, we will be getting more details. the vatican says, in due course, as to what might come next. in the meantime, tributes have been paid to the former pope, haven't they? we have been hearing many

words and messages about him. yes. we have had — words and messages about him. 133 we have had people from words and messages about him. 1j:;1 we have had people from around words and messages about him. 1j:1 we have had people from around the world, leaders from around the world, leaders from around the world, the british leader, the french leader, and people who recognised, paying tribute to pope benedict who led the catholic church for almost eight years. for the last ten years or so, he has been living in retirement here at the vatican city. pope francis has visited him at many times during this period but that has also created a somewhat complicated situation for the church because benedict had espoused a very conservative, traditional, catholic approach. he had spoken out against abortion, against contraception, against homosexuality, and pope francis has been marked by a much more liberal approach. sometimes that has created a situation where

that has created a situation where that has created a situation where that has appeared divisive and the church, it will be interesting to see now how the church handles the situation. we also have the question, will this be the first... will we see more resignations of popes after this move by benedict? will this now pave the way possibly for pope francis to resign, eventually? we have to wait and see what the situation will be. for some catholics, the resignation by benedict will be seen as something that shouldn't happen again, others will see it as a precedent for future popes to do that. so we will wait to see how that happens. 0f wait to see how that happens. of course, this is a complicated legacy that pope benedict leaves behind, he was pope during the period where the church was really having to focus on the worldwide scandal of sexual abuse by greece around the world, he

admitted that errors had been made when he was in munich and it is interesting to see how some people will react to the news of his death when it comes to that, as well. bethany, for now, thank you. joining me now is vincent nichols, cardinal of the roman catholic church and archbishop of westminster. thank you forjoining us. we will come onto the legacy of the former popein come onto the legacy of the former pope in a moment. the festival, i would like to ask you for your personal memories of the man. well, i met po -e personal memories of the man. well, i met pope benedict _ personal memories of the man. well, i met pope benedict on _ personal memories of the man. well, i met pope benedict on a _ personal memories of the man. :ii i met pope benedict on a number of occasions but i think my memories centre most of all around his visit to the united kingdom in 2011when, in a way, i was from the church point of view, his host. particularly when he was in london. i think he came to england with an immediate reputation of being god's

rottweiler. but i think he left with a sense of him being everybody�*s favourite great uncle, orjust uncle, because he was a kind, considerate, highly intelligent and sensitive man. and it was always a pleasure to be in his company even if pleasure to be in his company even hissues pleasure to be in his company even if issues had to be talked about. one of the ways you described him in a post that you put on twitter was talking about his gentleness and actually that's a feature that other people have remembered him for, as well, and that seems the be the way that many have categorised him. you just mentioned right at the end they're some of the difficult issues during his time, so perhaps it is the right moment to talk about his legacy, then, because of course, on the one hand he has been described by the archbishop of canterbury, just one of the tributes that has come through, in the past few minutes, the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, said that he was one of the greatest theology

and is of his age, but of course, during his time, it was a period of scandal and controversy and allegations of abuse among the catholic church. so it was quite a mixed legacy, really, wasn't it? well, he lived through a very tumultuous period as pope. but i think it important to remember that before he was elected pope he was in charge of the doctrinal section of the holy seat which had responsibility for issues to do with sexual abuse committed by caprice. he was the one who set in motion what some people like to call zero tolerance. so he personally was responsible for the layer citation of over 400 priests around the world once a proper due process had been done. he carried that burden, which was a considerable burden, but not the burden that the victims themselves carry. i think the two

other things that i will remember him for, one would be, as archbishop justin says, he was without a doubt one of the most erudite and yet accessible theology and is of the last century. his two books onjesus and nazareth confronted some of the deepest scriptural issues, and yet presented the person ofjesus in a very accessible way. i think the third thing i would mention would be, coming out of the background through which he lived in, germany, central europe, more than any other pope, he understood and esteemed the importance of democracy, but he also was able to challenge democracy to see how it needs a relationship between what you called the world of reason and the world of faith. so he said, when he was in this country,

in 2010 actually, that faith in god is not a problem to solve but it is a resource to be discovered again. so those three things, his struggle with the terrible scandal and hurt caused by clerical sexual abuse, his status as a theology at and his understanding of the role of religion in a particularly european context. i religion in a particularly european context. . . religion in a particularly european context. , ., ., ., ., context. i 'ust want to go back to that first context. i just want to go back to that first point, _ context. i just want to go back to that first point, do _ context. i just want to go back to that first point, do you _ context. i just want to go back to that first point, do you think - context. i just want to go back to that first point, do you think he l that first point, do you think he did enough for victims of sexual abuse and you tackle the scan doing my scandal? i abuse and you tackle the scan doing my scandal?— my scandal? i think you did everything _ my scandal? i think you did everything that _ my scandal? i think you did everything that was - my scandal? i think you did everything that was well. my scandal? i think you did - everything that was well understood at that time. 0bviously, everything that was well understood at that time. obviously, the first to sit down and talk and almost weep with people who had suffered from childhood clerical abuse, he did that in london. he took all the

steps that i think he could but i think society as a whole was still at an early stage of really understanding how radical a problem this is and how complex it is because it is thoroughly engrossed in secrecy and deceit and all of those things, which when a priest is involved, make it a terrible, terrible betrayal of trust. and he was brave, courageous, but always, there is more to do. we don't solve these problems, we try and live with them, try to understand the importance to those who have suffered of constant attention. but he made a brave effort at it and as well as always as a response ability is. . . well as always as a response ability is. ., , ~' ., well as always as a response ability is. ., , ~ ., ., well as always as a response ability is. he was known for having quite a conservative _ is. he was known for having quite a conservative outlook, _ is. he was known for having quite a conservative outlook, some - is. he was known for having quite a conservative outlook, some criticsl conservative outlook, some critics would say he was a restraining force

on people who wanted a more liberal church. i on people who wanted a more liberal church. . . on people who wanted a more liberal church. ., , ., ., , church. i always have a problem with a- -l in: church. i always have a problem with applying conservative _ church. i always have a problem with applying conservative and _ church. i always have a problem with applying conservative and liberal- church. i always have a problem with applying conservative and liberal to l applying conservative and liberal to the church. i think it is more complex than that, more subtle. what benedict did understand was the rootedness of faith and it's development through the centuries. some people would point to join henry knew, now a saint, as one of the great championships of the development of doctrine and how it changes in accordance with age. benedict was a huge fan of newham, he came to this country to declare him a saint. so it is not easy to put new in one category and benedict in another and of course pope francis comes from a very different background. he comes from a latin american background, and a latin american background, and a latin american way of understanding the

church and understanding people has now, i think, church and understanding people has now, ithink, come church and understanding people has now, i think, come much more as a source place, a place of encouragement and inspiration for the whole church and i think that is more the shift. benedict was thoroughly european and understood the historical dramas of the last century. and of dictatorship, and totalitarian nurse, and benedict comes with, sorry, francis comes with a much greater sense of what the people mean and of what popular movements are about.— movements are about. finally, in the ast few movements are about. finally, in the past few minutes, _ movements are about. finally, in the past few minutes, we _ movements are about. finally, in the past few minutes, we have _ movements are about. finally, in the past few minutes, we have had - past few minutes, we have had confirmation from vatican spokesperson saying that pope benedict's funeral will be on the 5th of january. there are still more details we are awaiting but what do you think the next steps are and what would you like to see happen? i would hope, now, that catholics everywhere and other people of goodwill will be praying for pope

benedict. it is a great tradition of the catholic faith that we can pray for the dead, we can, as it were, beseech god to be merciful in his judgment so that they may now enter into the fullness of god's presence. the fullness of god's presents is what we are created for. and this passage, now, from death into god's presents, we can only think of it in terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, forfor he terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, for for he to, terms of time but we beseech god the mercy for him, forfor he to, like every human, needs forgiveness. we pray that he will be living lee embraced by the heavenly father and given that place in the kingdom of heaven for which we pray for everybody. heaven for which we pray for everybody-— heaven for which we pray for eve bod . ., ., . . ., , everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank ou everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank you so — everybody. cardinal vincent nichols, thank you so much. _ we will return to the live scene, as you can see, that is the life shot

from saint peter's square and you can see same pieces visit basilica there. —— saint peter's basilica. we will return to that in a moment, but thatis will return to that in a moment, but that is a glimpse at the scene. let's take a look now at the scene. let's take a look now at the scene. let's take a look now at the pope's life. 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 pope to do so in 600 years. joseph ratzinger was born in southern germany. he was just six when the nazis swept into power. his parents were hostile to the regime, and though their son entered junior seminary in 1939, he was forced to join the hitler youth just two years later. he and his brother george were ordained on the same day in 1951. george became a parish priest, joseph chose a quite different kind of ministry.

first, a doctorate, appointments at prestigious universities, and then the vatican. a cardinal by his early 50s, an ailing popejohn paul ii made him head of the sacred congregation for the doctrine of faith, formally the roman inquisition. there he upheld traditional catholic teaching on abortion, contraception and homosexuality. he even spoke against rock music and the harry potter books. whenjohn paul died in april 2005, he was one of the church's longest serving cardinals and presided at the funeral. his homily, based onjesus' instruction, follow me, proved prophetic. afterjust four ballots, white smoke from the sistine chapel announced

cardinal ratzinger�*s election. the oldest pope for 275 years. as pope benedict xvi, he sought to re evangelize the west. it was an attempt to roll back the advance of secularism in europe and north america. but in it lay an acknowledgement of the church's declining influence in its traditional heartlands. but he also sparked controversy in 2006 when during a lecture he gave in germany, he quoted criticism of islam by a 14th century christian leader and appeared to link the religion with jihad and holy war. there were violent protests in several muslim countries. the pope apologised and made a point of setting up the first catholic muslim forum. he seemed chastened by the experience, and on visits like this one to britain, benedict exuded pastoral warmth and warned against

marginalisation of religion. i cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalisation of religion, particularly of christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance. but back in rome, the church was beginning to confront the scandal of sexual abuse by priests around the world. he was forced to deny that he'd played any role in covering up abuse. but the cases continued to mount. he later acknowledged he'd made mistakes in handling the matter. in february 2013, he shocked the world, announcing he would resign at the end of the month, citing age and failing health. the election of his successor, pope francis, represented a break with much of what benedict had stood for. the challenge was to find a leader

who could close the widening gap between a doctrinally conservative vatican and the church worldwide. benedict bequeathed to his successor the challenges that so fatigued him, the scandal of child sexual abuse, and diminishing congregations in the west. pope benedict upheld the creeds of the church and taught them with conviction. he died as he lived, thinking and writing about how to defend and advance those creeds in an increasingly secular world. i'm joined now by michael kelly, editor of the irish catholic newspaper. thank you forjoining us. we had a little about his time as pope, what do you personally think his legacy will be? .

i think his legacy will be is a great teacher of the faith. he was very comfortable in that role, he was never happier than when he was in a lecture theatre and one curious side to his time as pope was he used to use his annual summer vacation to go to cities in the north of italy and he would gather around local priests and catechists and church workers and would take theological questions from them it is not everyone's idea of a summer vacation but that shows just how much he was very comfortable as being a professor and if you look now, his various books, and also books he wrote becoming pope, they are the key texts in catholic universities and teaching future priest. his impact is immense and probably. future. forming the future mines, he

will themselves become catholic teachers, catholic leaders, parish priest, they will have an influence much larger than his papacy. b5 priest, they will have an influence much larger than his papacy. as pope over a decade — much larger than his papacy. as pope over a decade ago, _ much larger than his papacy. as pope over a decade ago, he _ much larger than his papacy. as pope over a decade ago, he apologised - much larger than his papacy. as pope over a decade ago, he apologised to l over a decade ago, he apologised to victims of child sexual abuse by catholic priests in ireland. what do you think of how he handled the child sexual abuse scandal. ? i think it is a difficult legacy and something that the church is still dealing with. i think is most important contribution will be, i think we can say this in all sincerity, he understood the situation, the issue, in a way that perhaps his predecessor, jon paul ii, didn't. benedict was very swift and quick to implement zero tolerance policies, to insist upon cooperation with civil authorities. before that, bishops around the world thought that something like the sexual abuse of a child by a priest was some kind of moral

failing that should be corrected by the sacrament of confession may be a period of therapy. rather than being dealt with by law enforcement officials. benedict was very clear to bishops throughout the world that that was not the approach they must adopt, ratherthey that was not the approach they must adopt, rather they should understand that the abuse of a child is a crime and therefore the civil authorities must be involved at the earliest age in order to deal with that from a criminaljustice point of view. i would say that was a hugely important step in the church. my goodness, this has been a slow learning curve for the church and the damage that has been done too many victims, not only by the initial abuse, many victims, not only by the initialabuse, but many victims, not only by the initial abuse, but by the mistreatment of the church when they came forward with allegations. that is something that the church will continue to live with, certainly for all of my lifetime. i think benedict xvi deserves some credit for being the first to push forward on all of that and really try to put it on the global agenda of the church because,

sometimes in the catholic church, there has been a tendency to say that the abuse of children is a western problem, a problem that was caused because of a sexual revolution or sexual liberalism, but benedict was very keen to say to the church throughout the world that this is not an issue that has emerged for you yet, it is an issue that will emerge because the abuse of children, sadly, is something thatis of children, sadly, is something that is part of every culture and part of every time. the only approach that is possible is constant vigilance.- approach that is possible is constant vigilance. one of the thins constant vigilance. one of the things that — constant vigilance. one of the things that we _ constant vigilance. one of the things that we have _ constant vigilance. one of the things that we have been - constant vigilance. one of the i things that we have been hearing constant vigilance. one of the - things that we have been hearing is, in the past few minutes, the plans, the details around the funeral. we have heard in the past few minutes that pope francis will be leading his funeral onjanuary that pope francis will be leading his funeral on january the 5th, but of course, this will not be like any of course, this will not be like any of the ones we have seen recently because, of course, this is the funeral of not a sitting pope but one who had retired.— funeral of not a sitting pope but one who had retired. yes. very much so. i one who had retired. yes. very much so- i think — one who had retired. yes. very much so. i think most _

one who had retired. yes. very much so. i think most of _ one who had retired. yes. very much so. i think most of us _ one who had retired. yes. very much so. i think most of us journalist - so. i think most of us journalist will remember the funeral of pope john paul ii in 2005 which was an extraordinary gathering and i think still the largest single gathering of heads of state and heads of government in world history. he was such a revered figure, but he was, as you say, a sitting pope. benedict xvi is not only the retired leader of the catholic church, he is also a retired head of state so i think from a specific point of view, in terms of the dignitaries and delegations that will come from many countries, i think you can see those countries, i think you can see those countries will probably be represented by their ambassador to the vatican rather than actually by a head of state. we, of course, remember that in 2005 the now king charles, the prince of wales, represented his mother at the funeral in 2005 and, in fact, his wedding to the duchess of cornwall was actually delayed in order to facilitate his attendance to the funeral. that's a sign ofjust how much esteem there is for a pope

dying in office. just much esteem there is for a pope dying in office-— dying in office. just about out of time for this _ dying in office. just about out of time for this section, _ dying in office. just about out of time for this section, thank - dying in office. just about out of time for this section, thank you | dying in office. just about out of i time for this section, thank you so much for your thoughts, time for this section, thank you so much foryourthoughts, michael much for your thoughts, michael kelly, much foryourthoughts, michael kelly, editor of the irish catholic. you are watching bbc news. now let's have a look at the weather forecast. here is matt. with flooding still an issue in some parts of the country and more rain expected at times through today, if you are on the move be prepared — there could be some further disruption around. allow a bit of extra time for yourjourneys and keep up to date on latest travel news. your bbc local radio station is there for you on bbc sounds. some of the wettest conditions through this afternoon though will be across england and wales, particularly south west england and south west wales, that pushing from west to east. a little bit drier for northern england, brighter for northern ireland and parts of southern eastern scotland, but a chilly day here, also in northern scotland where there'll be some

further snow flurries, barely above freezing, whereas we could had an incredibly mild 15 degrees across south east england. rain here, though, to start the evening clears away to showers. another batch of heavy rain then works its way northwards. and by the time we hit midnight, the winds really picking up. quite a blustery end to the year across southern and western parts with gales in places. but there will be some starry skies, just one or two showers around. different story — newcastle, carlisle, belfast, some heavy rain here and glasgow and edinburgh by midnight you could be seeing some rain and sleet push its way in. a pretty cold feel across much of scotland, with some ice already developing in northern areas — just one or two wintry showers. now, the temperature plummeting here, that area of rain pushing northwards into the cold air, more significant snowfall across the hills, even to low levels in central and northern scotland later. temperatures could get down to minus seven, plus ten, though, tonight in the southeast corner where we continue to see some clear skies and a few showers dotted around. so into the brand new year we go, it's going to be one of those days if you're off for a walk, a bit of sunshine across england and wales. more than today, but some showers, especially in the north and west. more showers tomorrow in northern ireland and plenty of cloud for scotland with some

outbreaks of rain, but also some sleet and snow in the north. another chilly day here, another pretty mild one further south. and then into monday after a colder start, frosty start, probably a better day to get out and about. there will be some dense and lingering fog across, say, the solway firth parts of south west and western scotland. a few showers into the far west of scotland but most of you will brighten up through the day to sunny spells and temperatures closer to the early january norm. but as we go through the first week of 2023, more areas of low pressure will spin across the north, bringing bouts of rain at times, some gusty winds as well but equally, there will be those drier and brighter moments, too. that's how it's looking. happy hogmanay.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the vatican has announced the death of pope benedict xvi at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ill health. his body will lie in state from monday in st peter's basilica. pope benedict led the catholic church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first pope in 600 years to resign. he spent the last nine years living in the vatican. the world health organisation meets chinese officials to discuss how to slow the coronavirus surge — after beijing dropped its zero covid policy. the who says chinese officials must share more real—time information on covid in the country.

palestinian authories welcome a vote by the un general assembly