Ex-Pope Benedict, the first German-born Pope in 500 years, died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the Vatican. His successor, Pope Francis, had previously warned that Benedict was "very ill".

"With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican," the Vatican announced.

Mourning the Pope, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world has lost a 'formative figure' of the Catholic Church with Benedict's death.

Benedict, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, resigned from the position in 2013, citing declining health. He was the first Pope since the Middle Ages to resign.

The Bavarian-born Ratzinger was named Pope in 2005.

He had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his resignation in February 2013.

His health had been declining for a long time, but the Vatican revealed on Wednesday that his situation had worsened, while his successor Pope Francis called for Catholics worldwide to pray for him.

His death brings to an end an unprecedented situation in which two popes -- Benedict and Francis -- had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city state.

Funeral service

The funeral for former Pope Benedict XVI will take place on January 5 and will be presided over by Pope Francis, Holy See top press officer Matteo Bruni said.

"On Thursday, January 5, at 9:30 a.m. [08:30 GMT], the funeral will take place in St. Peter's Square, with Pope Francis leading the service," Bruni told reporters.