Pope Benedict XVl

Pope Benedict XVl was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Benedict chose to be known by the title "pope emeritus" upon his resignation.

Ordained as a priest in 1951 in his native Bavaria, Ratzinger embarked on an academic career and established himself as a highly regarded theologian by the late 1950s. He was appointed a full professor in 1958 at the age of 31. After a long career as a professor of theology at several German universities, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977, an unusual promotion for someone with little pastoral experience. In 1981, he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the most important dicasteries of the Roman Curia. From 2002 until his election as pope, he was also Dean of the College of Cardinals. Prior to becoming pope, he was "a major figure on the Vatican stage for a quarter of a century"; he had an influence "second to none when it came to setting church priorities and directions" as one of John Paul II's closest confidants. He lived in Rome from 1981 until his death in 2022.

His prolific writings generally defended traditional Catholic doctrine and values. He was originally a liberal theologian, but adopted conservative views after 1968. During his papacy, Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many Western countries. He viewed relativism's denial of objective truth, and the denial of moral truths in particular, as the central problem of the 21st century. He taught the importance of both the Catholic Church and an understanding of God's redemptive love. Benedict also revived a number of traditions, including elevating the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position. He strengthened the relationship between the Catholic Church and art, promoted the use of Latin, and reintroduced traditional papal vestments, for which reason he was called "the pope of aesthetics". He had been described as "the main intellectual force in the Church" since the mid-1980s.

On 11 February 2013, Benedict unexpectedly announced his resignation in a speech in Latin before the cardinals, citing a "lack of strength of mind and body" due to his advanced age. His resignation took effect on 28 February 2013. He was the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so on his own initiative since Celestine V in 1294. As pope emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness and dressed in the papal colour of white. He was succeeded by Francis on 13 March 2013, and he moved into the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City for his retirement on 2 May 2013. The retired Benedict XVI later made occasional public appearances alongside Francis.

In addition to his native German language, Benedict had some level of proficiency in French, Italian, English, and Spanish. He also knew Portuguese, Latin, Biblical Hebrew, and Biblical Greek. He was a member of several social-science academies, such as the French Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. He played the piano and had a preference for Mozart and Bach. Benedict XVI was also the only pope to become a member of the Hitler Youth during his lifetime. (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Sources

• Fisher, Ian and Donadio, Rachel. "Benedict XVI, First Modern Pope to Resign, Dies at 95." New York Times, published 31 December 2022. < link > Accessed 31 December 2022.
• "Pope Benedict XVI." Wikipedia, revision of 31 December 2022. < link > Accessed 31 December 2022.

External Links

• Vatican City State: Benedict XVI
• Blog w/Family Photos
• Photo of brother Georg Ratzinger

Бенеди́кт XVI (лат. Benedictus PP. XVI, итал. Benedetto XVI, в миру Йо́зеф Алои́з Ра́тцингер, нем. Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 апреля 1927, Марктль, Германия — 31 декабря 2022, Монастырь Матери Церкви) — епископ Римско-католической церкви, 265-й папа римский (с 19 апреля 2005 года по 28 февраля 2013 года).

Бенедикт XVI стал самым старшим по возрасту на момент избрания Римским папой со времён папы Климента XII (избран в 1730 году). Бенедикт XVI — первый папа римский со времён Павла IV (XVI век), который был избран, будучи деканом Коллегии кардиналов, первый кардинал-епископ, избранный на папство со времён Пия VIII, первый папа со времён Бенедикта XIII, имевший сан кардинала до избрания долгое время (28 лет), первый папа немецкого происхождения за последнюю почти тысячу лет[8]. Третий папа за всю историю католической церкви (начиная с Целестина V) и первый за последние шестьсот лет (после Григория XII), отрёкшийся от престола[9]. Ему принадлежал рекорд долгожительства среди римских пап. 4 сентября 2020 года Бенедикт XVI стал самым долгоживущим папой, в возрасте 93 лет, 4 месяцев и 19 дней, превзойдя Льва XIII, умершего в 1903 году в возрасте 93 лет 4 месяцев и 18 дней.

Официальный титул после отречения — Его Святейшество Бенедикт XVI, Papa Emeritus (папа римский на покое)