Former pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced on December 31, almost a decade after stepping down as the head of the Catholic church.

"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," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

The deceased body of the pope will be displayed in the solemn setting of Saint Peter's Basilica on Monday.

The former pope served as the head of the church in 2005 and announced his resignation in 2013 citing his advancing age and his physical and mental health decline.

Being the first pope to step down, Pope Benedict, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, was known to be a great leader.

However, during his papacy, several controversies happened including the accusations of failing to stop predator priests from sexual abuse of children and calling him out for 'lack of leadership'.

The Vatican defended him as he was the first pope who apologized and addressed scandals.

He was born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, and became a priest in 1951.