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In a letter published by the Vatican, ex-Pope Benedict XVI expresses "my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness," in response to inquiry into his handling of child sex abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising between 1977 and 1982. In a statement published with the letter, his aides insist that "as an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse".
2022-02-8

Two months after his resignation, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returns to live in Vatican City at the Mater Ecclesiae.
2013-05-2

Cardinal Antonios Naguib resigns as Patriarch of Alexandria and head of the Coptic Catholic Church, at the age of 77. The Coptic Synod, with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, elects Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak to replace him.
2013-01-18

A court in the Vatican finds Pope Benedict XVI's former butler Paolo Gabriele guilty of theft for stealing and leaking confidential documents and sentences Gabriele to 18 months' imprisonment.
2012-10-6

To mark Pope Benedict XVI’s 85th birthday, a concert is held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. The managing director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig states that playing for the Pope is the pinnacle of the orchestra’s history.
2012-04-20

Pope Benedict XVI delivers the annual Christmas message at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.
2011-12-25

Pope Benedict XVI blesses Easter Mass in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City, calling for diplomacy and dialogue to bring ongoing events in Libya to a peaceful conclusion.
2011-04-24

The Vatican claims recent comments by Pope Benedict XVI concerning the use of condoms by male sex workers to reduce HIV infection do not mean the contraceptive devices can be used to fight against pregnancy in females.
2010-12-21

Pope Benedict XVI canonises Mary MacKillop, the first Australian saint, in front of 50,000 people in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City.
2010-10-17

Benedict's security is increased for his visit to Malta after the island's population of sexually abused announce plans to protest at his handling of the scandal.
2010-04-12