- February 11, 2013 – Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement, effective February 28th. He cited “advanced age” among other reasons. He was 85 years old at the time of his abdication.

- February 28, 2013 – Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican by helicopter and resided in Castel Gandolfo, a papal retreat, until the next pope (Pope Francis) was elected.

- May 2, 2013 – Returned to live in the Vatican. Lived in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City.

- February 22, 2014 – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI made a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis was creating 19 new cardinals.

- April 27, 2014 – Attended the canonization ceremony of popes John XXIII and John Paul II as a guest.

- December 8, 2015 – Pope Francis opened the bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica to launch the Year of Mercy. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, then 88, also joined him on this occasion. https://www.cp24.com/world/pope-francis-launches-holy-year-of-mercy-opens-vatican-s-holy-door-1.2691129 

- November 2016 - Benedict XVI’s book Last Testament: In His Own Words, co-written by Peter Seewald, is published. It was originally published in German and released in September, the English version was released in November. https://www.dw.com/en/benedict-xvi-airs-catholic-quibbles-in-last-testament/a-19541199 

- April 16, 2017 – Benedict XVI celebrated his 90th birthday. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/15/modest-90th-birthday-party-retired-pope-benedict-xvi/100501912/ 

- September 4, 2020 – Benedict XVI became the oldest pope in history, surpassing Pope Leo XIII, who lived 93 years, 4 months and 3 days. However, Leo XIII remains the eldest reigning pope.

- November 11, 2020 – New cardinals visited Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis

- May 15, 2020 – Benedict XVI wrote a letter commemorating the 100th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s birth. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/44533/full-text-benedict-xvis-letter-marking-st-john-paul-iis-birth-centenary

- June 18, 2020 – Benedict visited his brother, Georg, who is reported to be gravely ill. He arrived in Munich and traveled to Regensburg. During his stay, he resided in the diocesan seminary. This is reported as his first trip outside Italy since his abdication. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/benedict-xvi-visits-germany-brother-sick-ratzinger.html 

- June 20, 2020 – Benedict XVI visited and prayed at his family members’ graves. He also visited a house in Penting, a suburb of Regensburg, where he lived as a professor from 1970-1977. He frequented this house during his vacations while archbishop of Munich and prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/31755-benedict-xvi-travels-to-germany-to-visit-his-brother 

- June 22, 2020 – Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican.

- July 1, 2020 – Benedict XVI’s brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, died at the age of 96.

- July 8, 2020 – Benedict XVI watched his brother’s funeral via a livestream. https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/31853-benedict-xvi-follows-his-brother-s-funeral-virtually 

- November 2, 2020 – Benedict XVI declined the inheritance of his late brother Georg. As a result, the estate of Georg Ratzinger is donated to the Holy See. https://thedialog.org/international-news/retired-pope-benedict-xvi-declines-inheritance-of-his-late-brother-msgr-georg-ratzinger/ 

- January 14, 2021 – Benedict XVI’s secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, shared details of the pope emeritus’ life during the pandemic and the emotions of celebrating his first Christmas since his brother’s passing. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-01/benedict-xvi-the-pandemic-first-christmas-without-his-brother.html 

- April 16, 2021 – Benedict XVI turned 94.

- May 4, 2021 – A biography of Benedict XVI, written by Peter Seewald, is published in Germany. In the book he states that the Catholic Church is threatened by a "worldwide dictatorship of seemingly humanist ideologies." https://grandinmedia.ca/in-new-biography-pope-benedict-says-world-threatened-by-humanism/ 

- June 29, 2021 – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrates 70th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

- December 29, 2022 - Pope Francis announces that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is "very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end."

- December 31, 2022 - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passes away at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City at the age of 95. His last words, as heard by a nurse, were, "Signore ti amo" which translates to "Lord, I love you" in English.

- January 5, 2023 - Pope Francis presides over the Mass of funeral of the late Pope Benedict XVI's funeral Mass held in St. Peter's Square. Text of his homily, translated into English can be found here: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2023/documents/20230105_omelia-esequie-benedetto-xvi.html