Who was the pope before pope benedict xvi

Benedict XVI

(Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger)
pope
Born: April 16,
Birthplace: Marktl, Bavaria, Germany

Benedict XVI was named pope in April , succeeding the immensely popular Pope John Paul II. The conclave of cardinals selected him after two days of voting, a relatively short period.

Growing up in Nazi Germany, Benedict XVI took refuge in the Catholic Church.

Brief biography of pope benedict xvi nazi military Death and funeral [ edit ]. In , he became vice dean of the College of Cardinals and was elected dean in Academic career: — [ edit ]. Munich, Germany: Wilhelm Heyne Verlag.

His experience under a totalitarian regime shaped his religious views and has influenced his theology. Although his family was staunchly anti-Nazi, Benedict XVI was a reluctant and brief member of the Hitler Youth, as mandated by the government. He joined the seminary in and was drafted in He served in an antiaircraft unit and in the regular military before deserting in He was captured by U.S.

troops and was held as a prisoner of war. After World War II he returned to the seminary and was ordained in He turned to academia, earning a doctorate from the University of Munich in He spent about a dozen years writing and teaching dogma and theology.

Benedict XVI's ascent within the Catholic Church was rapid.

Biography of pope benedict xvi In February , Benedict admitted that errors were made in the treating of sexual abuse cases when he was Archbishop of Munich. Unicity and salvific universality of the Catholic Church [ edit ]. Peter's Basilica on 22 February to attend the first papal consistory of his successor Francis. Retrieved 12 September

In , he advised a German cardinal at the Second Vatican Council. He embraced its reforms but later began to question if they had gone too far, leading to moral decay within the church. Indeed, Benedict XVI was deeply troubled by the student protests in the late s in Germany.

Pope Paul VI appointed him archbishop of Munich in and a cardinal three months later.

In , Benedict XVI followed Pope John Paul II to Rome as a member of the doctrinal congregation, which sanctioned priests and theologians who challenged church doctrine.

Brief biography of pope benedict xvi nazi Benedict stated: "I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. Archived from the original on 26 February He stayed there until refurbishment was completed on his retirement home, the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens near St. Benedict, in August , submitted a handwritten card to act as a testimony to the cause of canonization of Pope John Paul I.

Benedict XVI is considered an archconservative in his religious views. In the past few years he acted as Pope John Paul II's right-hand man and chief enforcer of conservative church dogma. In fact, he has been called the “vice pope.” Benedict XVI is expected to continue the policy of a “strong Rome,” that is, dioceses will not gain independence from the teachings and rules of Rome.

It is unlikely in his papacy that women or married men will be considered for the priesthood.

Brief biography of pope benedict xvi nazi pictures Provided it does not degenerate into the promotion of special interests, this can help to stimulate forms of welfare solidarity from below, with obvious benefits in the area of solidarity for development as well. Tone of papacy [ edit ]. Archived from the original on 8 March His habilitation which qualified him for a professorship was on Bonaventure.

In addition, he is not expected to change the church's conservative views on homosexuality, premarital sex, birth control, or feminism.

An accomplished pianist, Benedict XVI tries to carve out time each day to play works by Mozart and Beethoven. While he appears to be in good health, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in that has affected his vision.