10 questions · Religion & Belief
Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria in 1927, was pope from 2005 to 2013: the first German in the office for almost a thousand years. Before his election he was regarded as one of the most important Catholic theologians of the present day. As pope the learned, rather reserved Benedict focused on preserving church teaching and wrote much-noted theological works. His pontificate was, however, also overshadowed by grave challenges, including dealing with cases of abuse in the church. In 2013 Benedict did something extraordinary: he resigned from his office on grounds of age: the first pope to do so in about 600 years. His successor was Francis. Benedict then lived in seclusion in the Vatican and died at the end of 2022. Good to know: As Joseph Ratzinger from Bavaria, he became in 2005 the first German pope in almost 500 years. Before his election he ran the doctrinal congregation for decades, as one of the Church's most influential theologians. In 2013 Benedict resigned: the first pope in almost 600 years to step down voluntarily.
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German pope
The first since Adrian VI of Utrecht (1522), strictly speaking since Victor II in the 11th century.
💡 Did you know? As Joseph Ratzinger from Bavaria, he became in 2005 the first German pope in almost 500 years.
theologian
One of the most important of the present.
💡 Did you know? Before his election he ran the doctrinal congregation for decades, as one of the Church's most influential theologians.
resignation
The first pope in about 600 years.
💡 Did you know? In 2013 Benedict resigned: the first pope to do so since Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to step down entirely of his own accord since Celestine V in 1294.
Francis
The first pope from Latin America.
💡 Did you know? He was succeeded by Francis, the first pope from Latin America, while Benedict stayed on in the Vatican as „pope emeritus“.
2022
After years in retirement.
💡 Did you know? Benedict died in late 2022: nearly ten years after his resignation.
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