BENEDICT XVI., POPE EMERITUS

 

BENEDICT XVI., POPE EMERITUS

Pope Francis on one of his visits to his predecessor Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in August 2022

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Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013.

In March 1977 he was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising by Paul VI, who bestowed the cardinal’s hat on him three months later. On November 25, 1981, he was made prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by his friend Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), whom he had known well since 1977. The pope and his prefect shared a similar history, both having lived under totalitarian regimes, and their views concerning the church were substantially the same. For more than two decades, Ratzinger was the pope’s closest adviser.

As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office responsible for preserving Catholic doctrine and evaluating according to canon law the warrant for disciplinary action against clergy, Ratzinger earned a reputation as a hard-liner.  

Despite his reputation, even his harshest critics recognised his intelligence and his ability to discuss controversial matters in an objective and disinterested spirit. 

He was also recognised for his humility and gentleness as well as for his many talents; he spoke several languages and was an accomplished pianist, with a particular fondness for Mozart. 

Although Ratzinger insisted on the superiority of the Catholic faith to other religions, which he deemed insufficient as means to salvation, he was also closely involved in Pope John Paul’s historic efforts to reach out to other faiths, especially Judaism and Islam.

Ratzinger’s election as pope on the second day of the conclave was apparently secured by his long service to John Paul and his devotion to his predecessor’s teachings and ideals. The homily he delivered as part of the funeral proceedings for the pope also increased his stature. 

Although he said he had prayed not to be chosen, he humbly accepted his election on April 19, 2005, becoming at age 78 the oldest newly elected pope since Clement XII (1730-40)

In February 2013 Benedict announced that he would resign at the end of that month, citing age and health concerns. His final public address in St Peter’s Square drew a crowd of more than 50.000. On February 28 he formally resigned, taking the title pope emeritus.

(Source:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benedict-XVI )

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Pope em. Benedict passed to his eternal reward on December 31, 2022 at Monastero Mater Ecclesiæ, Vatican City.