Pope Francis pays tribute to predecessor Benedict XVI

Pope Francis on Saturday praised Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died at the age of 95 earlier in the day. Speaking during a New Year's Eve vigil, Francis thanked his predecessor for "his testimony of faith and prayer, especially in these final years of retired life".Benedict will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job.

Meanwhile, political and religious leaders on Saturday expressed their condolences and shared their memories of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI following his death. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid tribute to the German-born pontiff as a “formative figure of the Catholic Church”.