Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. The native Bavarian died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the Vatican. Benedictus was the head of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. An eventful life in pictures.
childhood and adolescence
Joseph Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927 in Martkl am Inn in Upper Bavaria near the Austrian border and grew up the son of a police officer and a cook. He spent his childhood and youth mainly in Traunstein.
In 1943, Ratzinger was called up as an air force helper, after which he was assigned to the Reich Labor Service to build the southeastern wall.
Images of Benedict XVI
A seminarian at the boys’ seminary, he graduated from high school in 1946. He then completed his studies in theology and philosophy in Freising and Munich. Together with his brother Georg, he was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951. In 1959 he was appointed to the University of Bonn and in 1963 to Münster. Pope Paul VI appointed Ratzinger Archbishop of Munich and Freising on March 25, 1977. Three months later, the only 50-year-old received the cardinal dignity.
First German-speaking pope in nearly 500 years
In November 1981, Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Ratzinger Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and thus Supreme Guardian of the Faith. He held this office until his election as pope in 2005. He was the first German-speaking pope in nearly 500 years.
Ratzinger was considered the favorite for the papal office
Unlike the Polish predecessor John Paul II in 1978 and the Argentinian successor Francis in 2013, the outcome of the 2005 conclave was no great surprise. Ratzinger was considered the favorite for the papal office. In the fourth ballot on April 19, 2005, the 115 cardinals elected the long-serving prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as head of the world Catholic Church.
After his election, Benedict XVI attempted reforms. However, his efforts soon took a toll on his health. He drew groundbreaking conclusions from this: Seeing that his strength was no longer sufficient, he resigned his office on March 1, 2013 – as the first pope in 719 years – a sensation.
After the election of his successor Francis, it became quieter around Benedict, who has since lived in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican. Only in a few cases was he discussed again, such as with the publication of his biography “Benedict XVI. – Ein Leben”, in which he clearly distanced himself from same-sex marriages or abuse scandals in which he was accused of trying to cover up.
Source: Krone
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