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Pope Benedict XVI’s Early Years
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His biographerMatthew Bunson shared that the future pope’s own writings at the time expressed his disgust with the Nazi regime: “They had to move because of pressure to conform to the Nazi party and the whole ideology of the period. That, combined with his own Catholic experience, made him very opposed to the ideology of the Nazis.”
02of 09Pope Benedict XIV’s Early CareerThomas Imo/Photothek via GettyHe began his service as a chaplain in Munich in 1951, and moved quickly up the ranks of the Church, acquiring professorships and even cofounding a Catholic review journal,Communio.Before being ordained as pope, he was named archbishop of Munich and Freising in March 1977, according toBiography.com. In June of the same year, he was promoted to cardinal.
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Pope Benedict XIV’s Early Career
Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty
He began his service as a chaplain in Munich in 1951, and moved quickly up the ranks of the Church, acquiring professorships and even cofounding a Catholic review journal,Communio.Before being ordained as pope, he was named archbishop of Munich and Freising in March 1977, according toBiography.com. In June of the same year, he was promoted to cardinal.
03of 09Pope Benedict XVI Is OrdainedDaniele Venturelli/WireImageIn 2005, cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen to succeed John Paul II as the new pope, and chose the pontiff name Benedict. At age 78, he was the oldest pope to be ordained in 275 years. Not only that, he was the first German pope to be elected in 1,000 years.
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Pope Benedict XVI Is Ordained
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
In 2005, cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen to succeed John Paul II as the new pope, and chose the pontiff name Benedict. At age 78, he was the oldest pope to be ordained in 275 years. Not only that, he was the first German pope to be elected in 1,000 years.
04of 09Pope Benedict XVI Meets the ObamasPope Benedict XVI with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.Pete Souza/The White House via GettyPope Benedict XVI meets withPresident Barack ObamaandFirst Lady Michelle Obamaduring an audience in Vatican City, Italy in 2009.
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Pope Benedict XVI Meets the Obamas
Pope Benedict XVI with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.Pete Souza/The White House via Getty
Pope Benedict XVI meets withPresident Barack ObamaandFirst Lady Michelle Obamaduring an audience in Vatican City, Italy in 2009.
05of 09Pope Benedict XVI & the QueenQueen Elizabeth and Pope.Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/GettyPope Benedict is pictured talking toQueen Elizabeth IIas they leave The Palace of Holyroodhouse during a visit to the U.K. in 2010.
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Pope Benedict XVI & the Queen
Queen Elizabeth and Pope.Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty
Pope Benedict is pictured talking toQueen Elizabeth IIas they leave The Palace of Holyroodhouse during a visit to the U.K. in 2010.
06of 09Pope Benedict XVI Wears Many HatsVATICAN/AFP via GettyThe pope temporarily traded in his zucchetto for a sombrero while visiting Leon, Mexico in 2005.
06of 09
Pope Benedict XVI Wears Many Hats
VATICAN/AFP via Getty
The pope temporarily traded in his zucchetto for a sombrero while visiting Leon, Mexico in 2005.
07of 09Pope Benedict XVI on ChristmasFranco Origlia/GettyPope Benedict XVI leads Christmas night mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2012.
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Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas
Franco Origlia/Getty
Pope Benedict XVI leads Christmas night mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2012.
08of 09Pope Benedict XVI Steps DownFranco Origlia/GettyPope Benedict XVI leads his final audience before retiring in Feb. 2013, a decision he made as a result of his advanced age and declining health. He was the first pope to resign from his position since Gregory XII in 1415.During his time in the office of Pope,Benedict XVI made strides in responding to the allegations of sexual abusewithin the Church, including dismissing hundreds of accused abusers from their positions and meeting with abuse survivors. But in 2022, reports came out that implicated him in covering up clerical abuse in Munich in the 1970s.Pope Francis, his successor, has defended his predecessor’s record, and Benedict XIV issued an apology to victims: “I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate.”
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Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down
Pope Benedict XVI leads his final audience before retiring in Feb. 2013, a decision he made as a result of his advanced age and declining health. He was the first pope to resign from his position since Gregory XII in 1415.
During his time in the office of Pope,Benedict XVI made strides in responding to the allegations of sexual abusewithin the Church, including dismissing hundreds of accused abusers from their positions and meeting with abuse survivors. But in 2022, reports came out that implicated him in covering up clerical abuse in Munich in the 1970s.
Pope Francis, his successor, has defended his predecessor’s record, and Benedict XIV issued an apology to victims: “I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate.”
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Pope Benedict XVI’s Career Post-Papacy
Pope Benedict and Pope Francis.Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty
source: people.com
