The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican’s doctrine chief, stating that Catholics “in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion”.
Pope Francis gives responses to the issue of same-sex marriage, synodality as a constitutive element of the church, and change of the theology of the Church to start conferring priestly ordination on women, among other pressing questions.
Following the announcement of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday at the age of 95, we look back at his long life and its main highlights with the following official biography.
