Benedict XVI

Born

in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany

April 16, 1927

Website

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/...

Genre

Catholicism, Theology, Philosophy

Influences

Augustine of Hippo ...more

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Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) was the 265th Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the head of the Catholic Church. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005. A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship.

On 11 February 2013, Pope Benedict 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 b Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) was the 265th Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the head of the Catholic Church. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005. A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship.

On 11 February 2013, Pope Benedict 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 became effective on 28 February 2013. He is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so on his own initiative since Pope Celestine V in 1294. As pope emeritus, Benedict retains the style of His Holiness, and the title of Pope, and will continue to dress in the papal colour of white. He is expected to move into the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery for his retirement. He was succeeded by Pope Francis on 13 March 2013.

After a long career as an academic, serving as a professor of theology at various German universities (he formally remains a professor at the University of Regensburg), he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome when he became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the most important offices of the Roman Curia. At the time of his election as Pope, he was also Dean of the College of Cardinals, and as such the primus inter pares among the cardinals.

Like his predecessor Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI is theologically conservative and his teaching and prolific writings defend traditional Catholic doctrine and values. During his papacy, Benedict XVI has advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries. He views relativism's denial of objective truth, and the denial of moral truths in particular, as the central problem of the 21st century. He teaches the importance of both the Catholic Church and an understanding of God's redemptive love. He has reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Pope Benedict has also revived a number of traditions including elevating the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.

Pope Benedict is the founder and patron of the Ratzinger Foundation, a charitable organisation, which makes money from the sale of his books and essays in order to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.

(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...) ...more

Combine Editions
Benedict XVI’s books

Average rating: 4.42 · 36,612 ratings · 2,411 reviews · 593 distinct works • Similar authors

	Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Benedict XVI, Adrian J. Walker (Translator) 4.39 avg rating — 5,243 ratings — published 2007 — 58 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	God Is Love: Deus Caritas Est 4.53 avg rating — 2,557 ratings — published 2006 — 36 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection 4.58 avg rating — 2,426 ratings — published 2011 — 38 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Spirit of the Liturgy by Benedict XVI, Jon Saward (Translator) 4.38 avg rating — 2,316 ratings — published 1998 — 43 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives 4.49 avg rating — 2,185 ratings — published 2004 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Introduction to Christianity 4.41 avg rating — 1,104 ratings — published 1968 — 31 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Saved in Hope: Spe Salvi 4.60 avg rating — 818 ratings — published 2007 — 24 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times - A Conversation with Peter Seewald by Benedict XVI, Peter Seewald, George Weigel (Foreword) 4.29 avg rating — 825 ratings — published 2010 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Charity in Truth: Caritas in Veritate 4.43 avg rating — 650 ratings — published 2011 — 33 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Salt of the Earth: The Church at the End of the Millennium - An Interview With Peter Seewald by Benedict XVI, Peter Seewald 4.34 avg rating — 548 ratings — published 1996 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Benedict XVI…

Series by Benedict XVI

Jesus of Nazareth (3 books)
by

Benedict XVI

4.46 avg rating — 9,852 ratings

Encyclicals & Exhortations of Benedict XVI (6 books)
by

Benedict XVI

4.53 avg rating — 4,215 ratings

Opera omnia (1 book)
by

Benedict XVI

4.69 avg rating — 26 ratings

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Quotes by Benedict XVI

“If you follow the will of God, you know that in spite of all the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge. You know that the foundation of the world is love, so that even when no human being can or will help you, you may go on, trusting in the One that loves you.”
― Pope Benedict XVI

tags: god, hope, love

202 likes

“Truth is not determined by a majority vote.”
― Pope Benedict XVI

tags: cardinal-ratzinger, joseph-ratzinger, pope-benedict-xvi

159 likes

“It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stands at the heart of the Christian religion.”
― Pope Benedict XVI

tags: catholicism, christianity, feminism, mary, women

155 likes

See all Benedict XVI's quotes »

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