Gone quiet · last update Jan 8, 2023 / Benedict XVI

The death and funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Overview · reviewed October 21, 2026

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to resign, died at the Vatican on December 31, 2022, at 95.^[1] Pope Francis led his funeral in St. Peter's Square in January 2023, an event unprecedented in modern times.^[2]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Pope Francis led his funeral in St. Peter's Square in January 2023, an event unprecedented in modern times.^[2]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 6 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (2 weeks with coverage)

Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)	Left	Center	Right	Of tracked	Share	Receipts
Jan 2, 2023	22	27	12	61 of 191	32%
Dec 26, 2022	25	39	21	85 of 163	52%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

Jan 7, 2023 · first reported · Headline from NBC Chicago
Public Now Can See Benedict's Tomb at St. Peter's Basilica

Background

In late December 2022, the Vatican said the frail 95-year-old's health had worsened, and Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for him.^[3] The Vatican then described his condition as serious but stable,^[4] and he took part in a private Mass in his room.^[5]

After his death, tens of thousands of people paid their respects during three days of lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica.^[6] At the funeral, Francis bowed his head and placed his hand on Benedict's casket before it was carried away.^[2] Benedict was buried on January 5 in the tomb beneath the basilica once occupied by Pope John Paul II.^[7]

After the funeral, the publisher of a book by his longtime personal secretary promised that it would expose "dark maneuvers" and "blatant calumnies" that sullied his reputation.^[8]

Supporting stories (8)

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 14 recorded updates

Order

January 2023

Jan 7Public Now Can See Benedict's Tomb at St. Peter's BasilicaHeadline from NBC Chicago · 11 outlets
Jan 5Biden Pays Respects to Benedict XVI at Vatican Embassy in Washington: ‘It's a Great Honor'Headline from NBC New York · 8 outlets
Jan 4Thousands pour into St. Peter's for funeral of Benedict XVIHeadline from MyNorthwest · 11 outlets
Jan 3US bishops' rifts unlikely to ease after Benedict's deathHeadline from Berkshire Eagle · 6 outlets
Jan 2Why isn't Biden attending Pope Benedict's funeral?Headline from The Week · 8 outlets
Jan 1Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's body lies in state at VaticanHeadline from FOX 29 Philadelphia · 37 outlets
Jan 1Benedict aide's tell-all book will expose 'dark maneuvers'Headline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 5 outlets

December 2022

Dec 31Pope Francis Prays for Benedict on New Year's DayHeadline from NBC10 Philadelphia · 10 outlets
Dec 30Pope Francis leads funeral for predecessor Benedict XVI, a first in modern timesHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 38 outlets
Dec 30Benedict XVI, first pope to retire in 600 years, dies at 95Headline from WHEC Rochester · 82 outlets
Dec 30Pope Francis praises ‘gentle’ Benedict ahead of funeralHeadline from Washington Times · 14 outlets
Dec 28Vatican: Benedict XVI lucid, stable, but condition 'serious'Headline from WFMZ Allentown · 23 outlets
Dec 28Vatican: Benedict in stable condition, participated in MassHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 7 outlets
Dec 27Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI 'worsening'Headline from Herald Bulletin · 38 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →