Vatican Obit Benedict XVI Highlights

FILE - Pope John Paul II shakes hands with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, during the ceremony of the Christmas greetings at the Vatican on Dec. 22, 1995. At left is Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano and third from left, waving, is former Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Agostino Casaroli. As John Paul’s right-hand man on doctrinal matters, Ratzinger wrote documents reinforcing church teaching opposing homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia, and asserting that salvation can only be found in the Catholic Church. Benedict, the German theologian who will be remembered as the first pope in 600 years to resign, has died, the Vatican announced Saturday Dec. 31, 2022. He was 95. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti, File)