a warm welcome to bbc news. the former pope, benedict xvi, has died at the age of 95. the vatican says he passed away this morning at his residence there. 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. bell chimes this was the moment his death was confirmed in rome 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 and that pope francis will lead the funeral on january 5th. the first pope to do so in recorded history. here s our religon editor, aleem maqbool. 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 pop
nhs bosses in wales they say health services are experiencing demand like never seen before, and urge people to do what they can to help. celebrations have begun to mark the start of 2023 with firework displays in auckland, new zealand and at sydney harbour the former pope, benedict xvi, has died at the age of 95. the vatican says he passed away this morning at his residence there. 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. this was the moment his death was confirmed in rome 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 and that pope francis will lead the funeral on january 5th. here s our religon editor, aleem maqbool. cerebral by character
arrivals from china. celebrations are underway to mark the start of 2023 this is the scene live in hong kong the fireworks over the victoria harbour. and this taiwan the capital taipei with the fireworks shooting off the iconic skyscraper taipei 101. they have launched 16,000 fireworks in taiwan. the skyscraper is one of the tallest in the world. the extravaganza is going to last five minutes. and queen guitarist brian may and members of england s womens football team are among those celebrated in the uk s new year s honours list. hgppy happy new year to viewers in hong kong and taiwan. these are the scenes live. there was talk of their not being fireworks in hong kong but there are. there was an attempt to have a spectacular celebration and at last it is enjoying a degree of normalcy after the ravages of covid and the serious restrictions imposed on hong kong. this is always a beautiful display. in the evenings it is always pretty well lit up. we can watch for a mome
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 georg were ordained on the same day in 1951. georg 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
this was the moment his death was confirmed in rome 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 and that pope francis will lead the funeral on january 5th. the first pope to do so in recorded history. here s our religon editor, aleem maqbool. 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 georg were ordained on the same day in 1951. georg became a parish priest, joseph chose a quite