who was pope before pope francis

The pope before Pope Francis was Pope Benedict XVI. He served as the 265th pope from April 19, 2005, until his resignation on February 28, 2013. Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, was the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415 and the first to resign by choice since Pope Celestine V in 1294. After his resignation, he held the title of Pope Emeritus until his death in 2022. Pope Francis succeeded him on March 13, 2013