News reaching this media house can confirm Pope Benedict XVI, former head of the Catholic Church has passed on today following request made by Pope Frances on Wednesday on proclamation that he was very ill.

The Vatican news confirms the Pope's demise in a statement released at 10:39 am today on twitter. The statement progress to say "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 news writes. We are of the opinion as confirmed "further information will be provided as soon as possible".