| Name |
Pope
Benedict XVI |
| Original
Name |
Joseph
Ratzinger |
| Date
of Birth |
April
16, 1927 |
| Birth
Place |
Marktl
Am Inn, Germany |
| Considers
his hometown |
Traunstein,
Germany |
| Family |
Father:Josef
Ratzinger
Mother: Maria
Brother: Georg
Sister:Maria |
| Education |
*Schooling
in Freising
*Philosophy and theology at the University of Munich |
| Doctorate |
Thesis
entitled: "The People and House of God in St.
Augustine’s doctrine of the Church". |
| Taught |
Dogma
and fundamental theology at the higher school of
philosophy and theology of Freising. Was also a
professor of dogmatic theology and of the history
of dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice
President of the same university. |
| Papacy |
Elected
as a new Pope on Tuesday, April 19, 2005.
|
| Is
the |
265th
Pope |
| First
Speech as a Pope |
"After
our great pope, John Paul II, the cardinals have
elected me, a simple, humble worker in the vineyard
of the Lord" |
| Was |
Pope
John Paul II's chief theological adviser for 20
years. |
| Driving
force behind |
Crackdowns
on liberation theology, religious pluralism, challenges
to traditional moral teachings on issues such as
homosexuality, and dissent on such issues as women's
ordination. |
| Characteristics
as a |
*
Person: spontaneous wit, charm, courtesy,
shy and gentle person
* Professor: one of the best-prepared
and most-caring |
| Title |
'Prefect
of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith'
when Pope John Paul II appointed him guardian of
the church's doctrine. |
| Benedicts
means |
blessing
in Latin |
| First
|
The
first German Pope in 1,000 years |
| Ascent
to Papacy |
- 1939
Started his seminary studies as a 12-year-old
with joy and great expectations.
- June
29,1951-Ordained as a priest
- March
1977, Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich
and Freising
- 28
May 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan
priest after 80 years to take over the pastoral
ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.
- June
27, 1977 -was ordained a cardinal and is appointed
cardinal-priest of S. Marie Consolatrice al
Tiburtino.
- Nov
25, 1981 - appointed president of International
Theological Commission, Prefect of Doctrine
of the Faith, and President of Pontifical Biblical
Commission, Roman Curia.
- Feb
15 1982 - resigned as archbishop of Munich.
- April
5, 1993 - Appointed cardinal-bishop of
Velletri-Segni.
- Nov
30, 2002: Appointed as a Cardinal -Bishop of
Ostia
- April
19, 2005 - Elected Pope
|
| Deeply
moved by |
candlelight
services and midnight Mass. |
| Nazi
army |
Was
drafted as an assistant to a Nazi anti-aircraft
unit in Munich in 1943 |
| Escaped |
recruitment
by the dreaded SS because he said he was training
to be a priest. |
| Deserted
the Nazi army |
April
1945 |
| Took
part |
1962-65
Second Vatican Council, a major attempt to modernize
the faith |
| Some
of his publications |
*
‘Introduction to Christianity’ a collection of university
lessons on the profession of apostolic faith, published
in 1968
* Dogma and revelation, an anthology of essays,
sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral
ministry, published in 1973.
* 'God and the World,' published in 2000.
* "Values in a Time of Upheaval"
* "Aus meinem Leben," published in English
as "Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977."
|
| Positions
held |
- Relator
of the 5th General Assembly of the Synod of
Bishops (1980).
- President
Delegate to the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983).
- President
of the Commission for the Preparation of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, and after
6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New
Catechism to the Pope.
- Laurea
honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera
Università Maria Santissima Assunta, 10 November
1999.
- Honorary
member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences,
13 November 2000.
- Prefect
of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
- President
of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International
Theological Commission
- Dean
of the College of Cardinals
|
| Languages |
speaks
10 languages including heavily accented Italian. |
| Music |
accomplished
pianist with a preference for Beethoven.
|
| Health |
*
Suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that temporarily
affected his left field of vision in September 1991
* He cut his head after slipping in the bathroom
during a vacation in the Italian Alps in August
1992. |
| Facts |
- was
the oldest of the major contenders to be the
Pope.
- When
John Paul II became more ill, he sometimes helped
him lead ceremonies.
- Was
one of only two cardinals in the latest conclave
that was not chosen by John Paul.
- Served
as the late Pope John Paul II's chief theological
adviser.
- Headed
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith for two decades.
- The
oldest Pope elected was Clement XII, who was
chosen in 1730 at 78 but was three months older
than the present Pope.
- Was
elected in the fourth ballot of a conclave attended
by 115 cardinal-electors, from 52 countries,
in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. It was the
fastest election since the choice of Pius XII
in 1939.
- When
released from a U.S. POW camp he hitched a ride
back home on a milk truck.
|
| His
Views on |
No
to woman priests: In order to protect true doctrine,
to safeguard the communion and unity of the church
and to guide consciences of the faithful.
Secularism: We are in a very grave moment;
radical secularism may destroy humanism.
Cloning: More dangerous threat than weapons
of mass destruction.
Threats to the Church: Ideologies such as
Marxism, liberalism, atheism and agnosticism, collectivism,
and what he called "radical individualism"
and "vague religious mysticism."
Rock Music: Vehicle of Anti-religion
Turkey: Turkey's bid to join the Europe Union
conflicts with Europe's Christian roots
Buddhism: As a religion of self-indulgent
Homosexuality: as a "tendency"
towards an "intrinsic moral evil".
|
| Unflattering
nicknames |
Panzercardinal,
God's rottweiler, and the Grand Inquisitor
|
| Biography |
'Cardinal
Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith'-
written by Allen |
| Quote |
“I
can be obedient, because it is my fundamental conviction
that my intelligence is limited and the church is
wiser.” |
