Biography

After school, Ratzinger studied theology and philosophy from 1946 to 1951. He was ordained a priest in 1951, whereupon he worked first as a temporary priest in Munich-Moosach and then as a chaplain in Munich-Bogenhausen. From 1952 to 1954 Ratzinger was a lecturer in the Archbishop's Clerical Seminary in Freising. His doctorate followed in 1953 and his habilitation in 1957 at the University of Munich. In 1958 Ratzinger was appointed professor of dogmatics and fundamental theology at the Philosophical-Theological University of Freising, where he had previously worked as a lecturer. In addition, he also taught at several German universities until 1977, including as full professor of fundamental theology at the University of Bonn from 1959 to 1963. Ratzinger took part in the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965 as an official council theologian. In 1976/77 he was also vice president of the University of Regensburg. Ratzinger was made an honorary papal prelate in 1976.

In March 1977 he was appointed by Pope Paul VI. appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising. He was elevated to cardinal status in June 1977. Towards the end of 1981, Ratzinger was appointed "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" in Rome. In 1986-1992 he headed the papal commission to prepare the "Catechism of the Catholic Church". In 1992, Pope John Paul II also made him titular bishop of the diocese of Velletri-Segni. After Ratzinger served as sub-dean of the College of Cardinals in Rome from 1998, he was appointed dean in 2002. With this office he also assumed the role of titular bishop of Ostia. Ratzinger came to public attention through numerous theological writings. Among the most recent publications are "Introduction to Christianity" (2000), "On the way to Jesus Christ" (2003) and "Faith, Truth, Tolerance" (2003). The theologian has also been awarded several honorary doctorates from international universities.

The strict and influential cardinal was considered the chief theologian and ideological keeper of the Catholic Church under the pontificate of John Paul II (1978-2005). In this role he prevented any far-reaching reform of the church. On April 19, 2005, after around 24 hours of conclave, Ratzinger was elected as the new head of the Catholic Church in the 4th ballot, succeeding John Paul II. Since then he has been producing under the name Benedict XVI. the first pope from the German-speaking region after 482 years (since Hadrian VI). As early as mid-May 2005, the new Pope announced the opening of a shortened procedure that would lead to the official beatification of his predecessor John Paul II. Since this was the wish of millions of pilgrims in Rome, the Catholic Church waived the usual waiting period of at least 5 years. Even after his first meeting with African bishops in mid-June 2005, Pope Benedict XVI held. adheres to the Vatican's previous intransigent stance in the area of combating AIDS and sexual morality.

In view of the high number of victims, especially in Africa, the Catholic Church continues to make opponents through its dogmatic ban on the use of condoms. The Pope became embroiled in a diplomatic dispute with Israel in July 2005 after he failed to mention the terrorist threat to Israel in his condemnation of the recent terror attacks in London and Egypt. The Israeli government responded with an unusually harsh note of protest. Ariel Sharon apparently wanted to persuade the new Pope to fundamentally change the Vatican's impartial Middle East policy, which had already taken into account not only the Israeli side but also the Palestinian side under John Paul II. In August 2005, the Pope made his first foreign visit for World Youth Day in Cologne. On the sidelines of this event, the head of the Catholic Church met not only with representatives of the Evangelical Church, the Jewish Community and the Orthodox Church, but also with representatives of the Islamic religious community in Germany.

Benedict XVI was the first pope to visit. a German synagogue in Cologne. In mid-October 2005 it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI. completed his first encyclical, which was published on December 8, 2005. On the occasion of his state visit to Italy, Israeli President Moshe Katsav met with Pope Benedict XVI in November 2005. together in the Vatican. It was the first official visit by an Israeli head of state to the Vatican. On February 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced announced during a consistory that he would renounce the office of Bishop of Rome on February 28, 2013, 8 p.m. (CET). Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as his successor as Pope Francis on March 13, 2013.