Catholic church in Azerbaijan to honour memory of late Pope Benedict XVI

The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Azerbaijan's capital Baku will honour the memory of Pope Benedict XVI.

As Caliber.Az was informed in the Catholic parish, a memorial mass will be held in the church on January 5 at 7 pm local time.

On January 5, a farewell ceremony for Benedict XVI took place in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI died on December 31 at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican at the age of 96.

The German cardinal and theologian Joseph Ratzinger ascended the papal throne in 2005 after the death of his predecessor John Paul II and took the name, Benedict XVI.

On February 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced his decision to abdicate the throne of Saint Peter due to deteriorating health. He received the title of the pope in retirement and has since lived in one of the Vatican monasteries.