Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 14:39, 24 April 2010

Pope Benedict XVI
Installed	19 April 2005
Predecessor	John Paul II
Personal details
Born	Joseph Alois Ratzinger (1927-04-16) 16 April 1927 (age 97)
Nationality	German and Vatican
Signature
Other popes named Benedict

Part of a series on the
Catholic Church
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Overview
Pope: Francis Hierarchy History (timeline) Theology Liturgy Sacraments Mary
Background Jesus Christ Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension Early Christianity Peter Paul Fathers History of the Catholic Church History of the papacy Ecumenical councils Magisterium Four Marks of the Church One true church Apostolic succession
Organisation Holy See Roman Curia College of Cardinals Ecumenical councils Episcopal polity Latin Church Eastern Churches Canon law
Theologies Doctrine God Trinity Father Son Holy Ghost Consubstantialitas Filioque Divinum illud munus Divine law Decalogus Ex Cathedra Deificatio Realms beyond the States of the Church Heaven Purgatory Limbo Hell Paschal mystery Passion of Jesus Crucifixion of Jesus Harrowing of Hell Resurrection of Jesus Ascension of Jesus Blessed Virgin Mary Mariology Veneration Immaculate Conception Mater Dei Perpetual virginity Assumption Dormition Titles Queen Apparition Mediatrix Salvation Baptism of desire Baptism of blood Divine grace Outside the Church there is no salvation Infused righteousness Invincible ignorance Justification Means of grace Merit Mortal sin Satisfaction Moral influence Sanctification Synergism Venial sin Ecclesiology College of Bishops Deposit of faith Infallibility of the Church Mystical Body of Christ Papal primacy People of God Perfect community Subsistit in Other teachings Josephology Morality Body Lectures Sexuality Apologetics Amillennialism Original sin Hypostatic union Predestination Seven deadly sins Beatific vision Saints Dogma
Texts Bible Old Testament New Testament Official Bible Vulgate Sixtine Vulgate Sixto-Clementine Vulgate Nova Vulgata Peshitta Apostles' Creed Nicene Creed Athanasian Creed Catechism of the Catholic Church Papal bull Apostolic exhortation Epistula Encyclica
Philosophy Cardinal Virtues Just war Natural law Catholic ethics Personalism Probabilism Social teaching Philosophy of canon law Philosophers Virtue ethics Schools Augustinianism Scholasticism Thomism Scotism Occamism Christian humanism Molinism Neo-scholasticism
Worship Liturgy Eastern Catholic liturgy Mass Divine Liturgy Holy Qurbana Holy Qurbono Liturgy of the Hours Liturgical year Sacraments Baptism Penance Eucharist Confirmation Anointing of the Sick Matrimony Holy orders Prayer Devotions Bible Biblical canon
Rites Latin liturgy: Roman Post-Vatican II Tridentine Use of Sarum Anglican Use Zaire Use Gallican Ambrosian Braga Mozarabic Eastern Catholic liturgy: Alexandrian Antiochene West Syriac Malankara East Syriac Armenian Byzantine
Miscellaneous Antipopes Anti-Catholicism Criticism Deism/Pandeism Ecumenism Monasticism Relations with: Islam Judaism Orthodoxy Protestantism
Societal issues Art Evolution Health care HIV/AIDS Homosexuality Sexual abuse Music Nazi Germany Politics (in the United States) Role in civilization Science Sex and gender roles Slavery the Age of Discovery
Links and resources Index Outline Glossary Category Media Templates WikiProject Vatican City portal
Catholic Church portal
v t e

Pope Benedict XVI (Template:Lang-la; Template:Lang-it; Template:Lang-de; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church and, as such, Sovereign of the Vatican City State. 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. He succeeded John Paul II.

After a long career as an academic, serving as a professor of theology at various German universities, 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, Benedict XVI is theologically conservative and his teaching and prolific writings defend traditional Catholic doctrine and values. During his papacy, Benedict XVI has advocated for Europe to return to fundamental Christian values in response to increasing de-Christianisation and secularisation in 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 for the Catholic Church and for humanity of contemplating God's redemptive love and 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 giving the Tridentine Mass 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.

Overview

Benedict XVI was elected Pope at the age of 78. He is the oldest person to have been elected Pope since Pope Clement XII (1730–40). He had served longer as a cardinal than any Pope since Benedict XIII (1724–30). He is the ninth German Pope, the eighth having been the Dutch-German Pope Adrian VI (1522–23) from Utrecht. The last Pope named Benedict was Benedict XV, an Italian who reigned from 1914 to 1922, during World War I (1914–18).

Born in 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany, Ratzinger had a distinguished career as a university theologian before being appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising by Pope Paul VI (1963–78). Shortly afterwards, he was made a cardinal in the consistory of 27 June 1977. He was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope John Paul II in 1981 and was also assigned the honorific title of the cardinal bishop of Velletri-Segni on 5 April 1993. In 1998, he was elected sub-dean of the College of Cardinals. And on 30 November 2002, he was elected dean, taking, as is customary, the title of Cardinal bishop of the suburbicarian diocese of Ostia. He was the first Dean of the College elected Pope since Paul IV (1555–59) and the first cardinal bishop elected Pope since Pius VIII (1829–30).

Even before becoming Pope, Ratzinger was one of the most influential men in the Roman Curia, and was a close associate of John Paul II. As Dean of the College of Cardinals, he presided over the funeral of John Paul II and over the Mass immediately preceding the 2005 conclave in which he was elected. During the service, he called on the assembled cardinals to hold fast to the doctrine of the faith. He was the public face of the church in the sede vacante period, although, technically, he ranked below the Camerlengo in administrative authority during that time. Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI affirms traditional Catholic doctrine.

In addition to his native German, Benedict XVI fluently speaks Italian, French, English, Spanish and Latin and also has a knowledge of Portuguese. He can read Ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. He has stated that his first foreign language is French. He is a member of a large number of academies, such as the French Académie des sciences morales et politiques. He plays the piano and has a preference for Mozart and Bach.

Early life: 1927–51

Joseph Alois Ratzinger was born on 16 April, Holy Saturday, 1927, at Schulstraße 11, at 8:30 in the morning in his parents' home in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany. He was baptised the same day. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph Ratzinger, Sr., a police officer, and Maria Ratzinger (née Peintner). His mother's family was originally from South Tyrol (now in Italy). Pope Benedict XVI's brother, Georg Ratzinger, a priest and former director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir, is still alive. His sister, Maria Ratzinger, who never married, managed Cardinal Ratzinger's household until her death in 1991. Their great-uncle was the German politician Georg Ratzinger.

At the age of five, Ratzinger was in a group of children who welcomed the visiting Cardinal Archbishop of Munich with flowers. Struck by the Cardinal's distinctive garb, he later announced the very same day that he wanted to be a cardinal.

Ratzinger attended the elementary school in Aschau am Inn, which was renamed in his honour in 2009.

Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth — as membership was required by law for all 14-year old German boys after December 1939 — but was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend meetings. His father was a enemy of Nazism, believing it conflicted with the Catholic faith. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was taken away by the Nazi regime and killed during the Aktion T4 campaign of Nazi eugenics. In 1943, while still in seminary, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps as Luftwaffenhelfer. Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry, but a subsequent illness precluded him from the usual rigours of military duty. As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household. As a German soldier, he was put in a POW camp but was released a few months later at the end of the war in the summer of 1945. He reentered the seminary, along with his brother Georg, in November of that year.

Following repatriation in 1945, the two brothers entered Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein, later studying at the Ducal Georgianum (Herzogliches Georgianum) of the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. They were both ordained in Freising on 29 June 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of Munich. Ratzinger recalled:

...at the moment the elderly Archbishop laid his hands on me, a little bird -- perhaps a lark -- flew up from the altar in the high cathedral and trilled a little joyful song.

Ratzinger's 1953 dissertation was on St. Augustine and was entitled "The People and the House of God in Augustine's Doctrine of the Church". His Habilitation (which qualified him for a professorship) was on Bonaventure. It was completed in 1957 and he became a professor of Freising College in 1958.

Pre-papal career

Academic career: 1951–77

Ratzinger became a professor at the University of Bonn in 1959; his inaugural lecture was on "The God of Faith and the God of Philosophy." In 1963, he moved to the University of Münster.

During this period, Ratzinger participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962–65). Ratzinger served as a peritus (theological consultant) to Cardinal Frings of Cologne. He was viewed during the time of the Council as a reformer, cooperating with radical Modernist theologians like Hans Küng and Edward Schillebeeckx. Ratzinger became an admirer of Karl Rahner, a well-known academic theologian of the Nouvelle Théologie and a proponent of church reform.

In 1966, Joseph Ratzinger was appointed to a chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen, where he was a colleague of Hans Küng. In his 1968 book Introduction to Christianity, he wrote that the pope has a duty to hear differing voices within the Church before making a decision, and he downplayed the centrality of the papacy. During this time, he distanced himself from the atmosphere of Tübingen and the Marxist leanings of the student movement of the 1960s that quickly radicalised, in the years 1967 and 1968, culminating in a series of disturbances and riots in April and May 1968. Ratzinger came increasingly to see these and associated developments (such as decreasing respect for authority among his students) as connected to a departure from traditional Catholic teachings. Despite his reformist bent, his views increasingly came to contrast with the liberal ideas gaining currency in theological circles.

Some voices, among them Hans Küng, deem this a turn towards Conservatism, while Ratzinger himself said in a 1993 interview, "I see no break in my views as a theologian ". Ratzinger has continued to defend the work of the Second Vatican Council, including Nostra Aetate, the document on respect of other religions, ecumenism and the declaration of the right to freedom of religion. Later, as the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ratzinger most clearly spelled out the Catholic Church's position on other religions in the 2000 document Dominus Iesus which also talks about the Roman Catholic way to engage in ecumenical dialogue.

During his years at Tübingen University, Ratzinger publicised articles in the reformist theological journal Concilium, though he increasingly chose less reformist themes than other contributors to the magazine such as Hans Küng and Edward Schillebeeckx.

In 1969, he returned to Bavaria, to the University of Regensburg. He founded the theological journal Communio, with Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac, Walter Kasper and others, in 1972. Communio, now published in seventeen languages, including German, English and Spanish, has become a prominent journal of contemporary Catholic theological thought. Until his election as Pope, he remained one of the journal's most prolific contributors. In 1976, he suggested that the Augsburg Confession might possibly be recognised as a Catholic statement of faith. This however did not happen due to differences in theology on justification.

Archbishop of Munich and Freising: 1977–82

On 24 March 1977, Ratzinger was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising. He took as his episcopal motto Cooperatores Veritatis (Co-workers of the Truth) from 3 John 8, a choice he comments upon in his autobiographical work, Milestones. In the consistory of the following 27 June, he was named Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino by Pope Paul VI. By the time of the 2005 Conclave, he was one of only 14 remaining cardinals appointed by Paul VI, and one of only three of those under the age of 80. Of these, only he and William Wakefield Baum took part in the conclave.

Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: 1981–2005

On 25 November 1981, Pope John Paul II named Ratzinger Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Holy Office, the historical Inquisition. Consequently, he resigned his post at Munich in early 1982. He was promoted within the College of Cardinals to become Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni in 1993, was made the College's vice-dean in 1998 and dean in 2002.

In office, Ratzinger fulfilled his institutional role, defending and reaffirming Catholic doctrine, including teaching on topics such as birth control, homosexuality, and inter-religious dialogue. Leonardo Boff, for example, was suspended, while others were censured. Other issues also prompted condemnations or revocations of rights to teach: for instance, some posthumous writings of Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello were the subject of a notification. Ratzinger and the Congregation viewed many of them, particularly the later works, as having an element of religious indifferentism (i.e., Christ was "one master alongside others").

The Congregation is best known for its authority over the teaching of Church doctrine, but it also has jurisdiction over other matters, including cases involving the seal of the confessional, clerical sexual misconduct and other matters, in its function as what amounts to a court. In his capacity as Prefect, Ratzinger's 2001 letter De delictis gravioribus which clarified the confidentiality of internal Church investigations, as defined in the 1962 document Crimen Sollicitationis, into accusations made against priests of certain crimes, including sexual abuse, became a target of controversy during the sex abuse scandal. While bishops hold the secrecy pertained only internally, and did not preclude investigation by civil law enforcement, the letter was often seen as promoting a coverup. The Pope was accused in a lawsuit of conspiring to cover up the molestation of three boys in Texas, but sought and obtained diplomatic immunity from prosecution.

On 12 March 1983, Ratzinger as prefect and cardinal notified the lay faithful and the clergy that archbishop Pierre Martin Ngo Dinh Thuc had incurred the excommunication latae sententiae for illicit episcopal consecrations without the apostolic mandate.

Papacy

Election to the papacy

Prediction

On 2 January 2005, Time magazine quoted unnamed Vatican sources as saying that Ratzinger was a front runner to succeed John Paul II should the pope die or become too ill to continue as pope. On the death of John Paul II, the Financial Times gave the odds of Ratzinger becoming pope as 7–1, the lead position, but close to his rivals on the liberal wing of the church. In April 2005, before his election as pope, he was identified as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. While Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ratzinger repeatedly stated he would like to retire to his house in the Bavarian village of Pentling near Regensburg and dedicate himself to writing books.

Piers Paul Read wrote in The Spectator on 5 March 2005:

There can be little doubt that his courageous promotion of orthodox Catholic teaching has earned him the respect of his fellow cardinals throughout the world. He is patently holy, highly intelligent and sees clearly what is at stake. Indeed, for those who blame the decline of Catholic practice in the developed world precisely on the propensity of many European bishops to hide their heads in the sand, a pope who confronts it may be just what is required. Ratzinger is no longer young—he is 78 years old: but Angelo Roncalli, who revolutionised Catholicism by calling the Second Vatican Council was almost the same age (76) when he became pope as John XXIII. As Jeff Israely, the correspondent of Time, was told by a Vatican insider last month, "The Ratzinger solution is definitely on."

Though Ratzinger was increasingly considered the front runner by much of the international media, others maintained that his election was far from certain, since very few papal predictions in modern history had come true. The elections of both John Paul II and his predecessor, John Paul I had been rather unexpected. Despite being the favorite (or perhaps because he was the favorite), it was a surprise to many that he was actually elected, as traditionally the frontrunners are passed over by the conclave for someone else.

Election

On 19 April 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as the successor to Pope John Paul II on the second day of the papal conclave after four ballots. Cardinal Ratzinger had hoped to retire peacefully and said that "At a certain point, I prayed to God 'please don't do this to me'...Evidently, this time He didn't listen to me." Coincidentally, 19 April is the feast of St. Leo IX, the most important German pope of the Middle Ages, known for instituting major reforms during his pontificate.

Before his first appearance at the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica after becoming pope, he was announced by Jorge Medina Estévez, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Medina Estévez first addressed the massive crowd as "dear(est) brothers and sisters" in Italian, Spanish, French, German and English, with each language receiving cheers from the international crowd, before continuing with the traditional Habemus Papam announcement in Latin.

At the balcony, Benedict's first words to the crowd, given in Italian before he gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing in Latin, were:

Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with insufficient instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. In the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help, let us move forward. The Lord will help us, and Mary, His Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.

On 24 April, he celebrated the Papal Inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square, during which he was invested with the Pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman. Then, on 7 May, he took possession of his Cathedral church, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

Choice of name

Ratzinger chose the pontifical name Benedict, which comes from the Latin word meaning "the blessed", in honour of both Pope Benedict XV and Saint Benedict of Nursia. Pope Benedict XV was Pope during the first World War, during which time he passionately pursued peace between the warring nations. St. Benedict of Nursia was the founder of the Benedictine monasteries (most monasteries of the Middle Ages were of the Benedictine Order) and the author of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which is still the most influential writing regarding the monastic life of Western Christianity.

Benedict XVI explained his choice of name during his first General Audience in St. Peter's Square, on 27 April 2005:

Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples. Additionally, I recall Saint Benedict of Nursia, co-patron of Europe, whose life evokes the Christian roots of Europe. I ask him to help us all to hold firm to the centrality of Christ in our Christian life: May Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions!

Tone of papacy

During his inaugural Mass, the previous custom of every cardinal submitting to the Pope was replaced by having twelve people, including cardinals, clergy, religious, a married couple and their child, and newly confirmed people, greet him. (The cardinals had formally sworn their obedience upon his election.) He began using an open-topped papal car, saying that he wanted to be closer to the people. Pope Benedict has continued the tradition of his predecessor John Paul II and baptises several infants in the Sistine Chapel at the beginning of each year, in his pastoral role as Bishop of Rome.

Beatifications

On 9 May 2005, Benedict XVI began the beatification process for his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. Normally, five years must pass after a person's death before the beatification process can begin. However, in an audience with Pope Benedict, Camillo Ruini, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome and the official responsible for promoting the cause for canonization of any person who dies within that diocese, cited "exceptional circumstances" which suggested that the waiting period could be waived. This happened before, when Pope Paul VI waived the five year rule and announced beatification processes for his predecessors, Pope Pius XII and Pope John XXIII. Benedict XVI followed this precedent when he waived the five year rule for John Paul II. The decision was announced on 13 May 2005, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the 24th anniversary of the attempt on John Paul II's life. John Paul II often credited Our Lady of Fatima for preserving him on that day. Cardinal Ruini inaugurated the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification in the Lateran Basilica on 28 June 2005.

The first beatification under the new Pope was celebrated on 14 May 2005, by José Cardinal Saraiva Martins. The new Blesseds were Mother Marianne Cope and Mother Ascensión Nicol Goñi. Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen was beatified on 9 October 2005. Mariano de la Mata was beatified in November 2006 and Rosa Eluvathingal was beatified 3 December of that year, and Fr. Basil Moreau is scheduled to be beatified by next year. In October 2008 the following beatifications took place: Celestine of the Mother of God, Giuseppina Nicoli, Hendrina Stenmanns, Maria Rosa Flesch, Marta Anna Wiecka, Michal Sopocko, Petrus Kibe Kasui and 187 Companions, Susana Paz-Castillo Ramirez, Maria Isbael Salvat Romero, John Henry Newman.

Unlike his predecessor, Benedict XVI delegated the beatification liturgical service to a Cardinal. On 29 September 2005, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued a communiqué announcing that henceforth beatifications would be celebrated by a representative of the Pope, usually the Prefect of that Congregation.

Canonizations

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his first canonizations on 23 October 2005 in St. Peter's Square when he canonized Josef Bilczewski, Alberto Hurtado SJ, Zygmunt Gorazdowski, Gaetano Catanoso, and Felice da Nicosia. The canonizations were part of a Mass that marked the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops and the Year of the Eucharist. Pope Benedict XVI canonized Bishop Rafael Guizar y Valencia, Mother Theodore Guerin, Filippo Smaldone, and Rosa Venerini on 15 October 2006.

During his visit to Brazil in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI presided over the canonization of Frei Galvão on 11 May, while George Preca, founder of the Malta based M.U.S.E.U.M., Szymon of Lipnica, Charles of Mount Argus, and Marie-Eugénie de Jésus were canonized in a ceremony held at the Vatican on 3 June 2007. Preca is the first Maltese saint since the country's conversion to Christianity in 60 A.D. when St. Paul converted the inhabitants. In October 2008 the following canonizations took place: Saint Alphonsa of India, Gaetano Errico, Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran, Maria Bernarda Bütler. In October 2009, he canonized Jeanne Jugan, Jozef Damian de Veuster, Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, Francisco Coll Guitart and Rafael Arnáiz Barón.

Curia reform

This article is part of a series on
Vatican City
History Duchy of Rome (554–751) Donation of Pepin (750s) Papal States (754–1870) Annates Congregation for Borders Fundamental Statute for the Secular Government of the States of the Church Capture of Rome (1870) "Prisoner in the Vatican" (1870–1929) Roman Question Law of Guarantees Lateran Treaty (1929) Vatican City (1929–present) Governorate of Vatican City State 2010 Vatican employee sex scandal History of the Catholic Church since 1962 History of the Papacy Roman Historical Institutes Savoyard Era Vatileaks scandal Vatican Historical Museum Vatican City during World War II
Law Acta Apostolicae Sedis Fundamental Law of Vatican City State Capital punishment in Vatican City Crime in Vatican City Lateran Treaty Legal status of the Holy See (Alperin v. Vatican Bank) (Doe v. Holy See) Temporal power of the Holy See Tribunal of Vatican City State Canon law 1983 Code of Canon Law Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus LGBTQ rights in Vatican City
Politics and government Archives Association of Vatican Lay Workers Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State President President: Giuseppe Bertello Pontifical Commission Secretariat for Communications Holy See Press Office L'Osservatore Romano (Vatican City newspaper) L'Osservatore della Domenica List of newspapers in Vatican City Vatican Radio lawsuit Vatican Information Service .va (Vatican City internet sites) Vatican Publishing House Vatican Radio Vatican Television Center Secretariat of State Secretary: Pietro Parolin Fabric of Saint Peter Foreign relations of the Holy See Papal apocrisiarius Governorate of Vatican City State Governor of Vatican City College of Cardinals Camerlengo (Chamberlain) Dean Vical General Court of Cassation President: Dominique Mamberti Court of Appeals President: Pio Vito Pinto Tribunale President: G. di Sanguinetto Military in Vatican City Swiss Guard Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State
Papacy Pope Popemobile Catholic Church Latin Church Holy See Diocese of Rome Roman Curia Universi Dominici Gregis Papal conclave (Papal elections) Universi Dominici gregis Recent conclaves 1978 (Oct) 2005 2013 Papal household Papal Gentleman Prefecture of the Pontifical Household
Foreign relations Section for Relations with States Concordats Multilateral foreign policy Status in international law Lateran Treaty Section for Relations with States (Roman Curia) Secretary for Relations with States: Paul Gallagher Undersecretaries for Relations with States: Antoine Camilleri List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See Nuncios Vatican City and Holy See passports Visa requirements Visa policy The Holy See and the United Nations Holy See–Italy relations Holy See–United States relations Holy See–Israel relations Holy See–Palestine relations
Economy Institute for the Works of Religion Telephone numbers in Vatican City Tourism in Vatican City Transport in Vatican City Rail transport in Vatican City Secretariat for the Economy Financial Information Authority Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See Vatican euro coins Vatican lira Properties of the Holy See
Symbols Flag List of Papal flags Anthem Coat of arms of Vatican City 00120 (Vatican postcode) Papal tiara Papal coronation
Culture Vatican Museums Vatican Library Music of Vatican City Sistine Chapel Choir Languages of Vatican City Women in Vatican City Vatican Christmas Tree Sport in Vatican City Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City Public holidays in Vatican City Pontifical Academy of Sciences Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences The Story of the Vatican, 1941 documentary
Buildings/geography Apostolic nunciature Apostolic Palace Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Borgia Apartments Bramante Staircase Domus Sanctae Marthae Fountains of St. Peter's Square Gardens of Vatican City Geography of Vatican City Gregorian Tower Mater Ecclesiae (monastery) Monument to the Royal Stuarts Palace of the Holy Office Palazzi Pontifici Papal Apartments Saint Peter's Basilica Saint Peter's Square Saint Peter's tomb Lateran Basilica Lateran Palace Leonine City Niccoline Chapel Old St. Peter's Basilica Papal tombs Papal tombs in Old St. Peter's Basilica Paul VI Audience Hall Tomb of the Julii Torre San Giovanni Scala Regia Via della Conciliazione Vatican Climate Forest Vatican Heliport Vatican Hill Vatican Necropolis Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City Public holidays in Vatican City Vatican Secret Archives St. Peter's Baldachin Sala Regia San Pellegrino in Vaticano Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope Vatican Observatory Vatican Pharmacy Bibliotheca Palatina Cappella Giulia Cappella Paolina Cardinal Secretary of State Casina Pio IV Circus of Nero Redemptoris Mater Chapel Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss Santo Stefano degli Abissini Santo Stefano degli Ungheresi Teutonic Cemetery Cortile del Belvedere Passetto di Borgo Porta San Pellegrino
Vatican Museums Vatican Museums Vatican Gallery of Maps Gallery of Sistine Chapel ceiling Collection of Modern Religious Art Raphael Rooms Redemptoris Mater Chapel Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes Sistine Chapel Sistine Chapel ceiling The Last Judgment by Michelangelo
Outline Index Vatican City portal Catholicism portal
v t e

Pope Benedict began downsizing the Roman Curia when he merged four existing pontifical councils into two in March 2006. The Pontifical Council for Migrants was merged with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace headed by Cardinal Martino. Likewise, Cardinal Poupard, who headed the Pontifical Council for Culture, now also oversees the operations of what had been the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, though both Councils maintained separate officials and staffs while their status and competencies continued unchanged. In May 2007 it was decided that Interreligious Dialogue would again become a separate body under a different President.

Teachings

As Pope, Benedict XVI's main role is to teach about the Catholic faith and the solutions to the problems of discerning and living the faith, a role that he can play well as a former head of the Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The main points of emphasis of his teachings are stated in more detail in Theology of Pope Benedict XVI.

"Friendship with Jesus Christ"

According to commentators, during the Inaugural Mass, the core of the Pope's message, the most moving and famous part, is found in the last paragraph of his homily where he referred to both Jesus Christ and John Paul II. After referring to John Paul II's well-known words, "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!", Benedict XVI said:

Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us?...And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation....When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life.

"Friendship with Jesus Christ" is a frequent theme of his preaching. He stressed that on this intimate friendship, "everything depends." He has also said: "We are all called to open ourselves to this friendship with God... speaking to him as to a friend, the only One who can make the world both good and happy... That is all we have to do is put ourselves at his disposal...is an extremely important message. It is a message that helps to overcome what can be considered the great temptation of our time: the claim, that after the Big Bang, God withdrew from history." Thus, in his book Jesus of Nazareth, his main purpose was "to help foster the growth of a living relationship" with Jesus Christ.

He took up this theme in his first encyclical Deus Caritas Est. In his personal explanation and summary of the encyclical, he stated: "If friendship with God becomes for us something ever more important and decisive, then we will begin to love those whom God loves and who are in need of us. God wants us to be friends of his friends and we can be so, if we are interiorly close to them." Thus, he said that prayer is "urgently needed...It is time to reaffirm the importance of prayer in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work."

"Dictatorship of Relativism"

Continuing what he said in the pre-conclave Mass about what he has often referred to as the "central problem of our faith today", on 6 June 2005 Pope Benedict also said:

Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of education is the massive presence in our society and culture of that relativism which, recognising nothing as definitive, leaves as the ultimate criterion only the self with its desires. And under the semblance of freedom it becomes a prison for each one, for it separates people from one another, locking each person into his or her own ego.

He said that "a dictatorship of relativism" was the core challenge facing the church and humanity. At the root of this problem, he said, is Kant's "self-limitation of reason". This, he said, is contradictory to the modern acclamation of science whose excellence is based on the power of reason to know the truth. He said that this self-amputation of reason leads to pathologies of religion such as terrorism and pathologies of science such as ecological disasters. Benedict traced the failed revolutions and violent ideologies of the twentieth century to a conversion of partial points of view into absolute guides. He said "Absolutizing what is not absolute but relative is called totalitarianism."

In an address to a conference of the Diocese of Rome held at the basilica of St. John Lateran 6 June 2005, Benedict remarked on the issues of same sex marriage and abortion:

The various forms of the dissolution of matrimony today, like free unions, trial marriages and going up to pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex, are rather expressions of an anarchic freedom that wrongly passes for true freedom of man...from here it becomes all the more clear how contrary it is to human love, to the profound vocation of man and woman, to systematically close their union to the gift of life, and even worse to suppress or tamper with the life that is born.

Christianity as religion according to reason

In the discussion with secularism and rationalism, one of Benedict's basic ideas can be found in his address on the "Crisis of Culture" in the West, a day before Pope John Paul II died, when he referred to Christianity as the Religion of the Logos (the Greek for "word", "reason", "meaning", or "intelligence"). He said:

From the beginning, Christianity has understood itself as the religion of the Logos, as the religion according to reason...It has always defined men, all men without distinction, as creatures and images of God, proclaiming for them...the same dignity. In this connection, the Enlightenment is of Christian origin and it is no accident that it was born precisely and exclusively in the realm of the Christian faith....It was and is the merit of the Enlightenment to have again proposed these original values of Christianity and of having given back to reason its own voice... Today, this should be precisely philosophical strength, in so far as the problem is whether the world comes from the irrational, and reason is not other than a 'sub-product,' on occasion even harmful of its development—or whether the world comes from reason, and is, as a consequence, its criterion and goal...In the so necessary dialogue between secularists and Catholics, we Christians must be very careful to remain faithful to this fundamental line: to live a faith that comes from the Logos, from creative reason, and that, because of this, is also open to all that is truly rational.

Benedict also emphasised that "Only creative reason, which in the crucified God is manifested as love, can really show us the way."

Encyclicals: Love and hope

Pope Benedict has to date written three encyclicals, Deus Caritas Est (Latin for "God is Love"), Spe Salvi ("Saved by Hope"), and Caritas in Veritate ("Love in Truth").

In his first encyclical, "God is love", he said that a human being, created in the image of God who is love, is able to practice love: to give himself to God and others (agape), by receiving and experiencing God's love in contemplation (eros). This life of love, according to him, is the life of the saints such as Teresa of Calcutta and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is the direction Christians take when they believe that God loves them in Jesus Christ.

The encyclical contains almost 16,000 words in 42 paragraphs. The first half is said to have been written by Benedict in German, his mother tongue, in the summer of 2005; the second half is derived from uncompleted writings left by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. The document was signed by Pope Benedict on Christmas Day, 25 December 2005. The encyclical was promulgated a month later in Latin and was translated into English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. It is the first encyclical to be published since the Vatican decided to assert copyright in the official writings of the Pope.

Pope Benedict's second encyclical titled Spe Salvi ("Saved by Hope"), about the virtue of hope, was released on 30 November 2007.

Benedict's third encyclical titled Caritas in Veritate ("Love in Truth" or "Charity in Truth"), was signed on 29 June 2009 (the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul) and released on 7 July 2009. In it, the Pope continued the Church's teachings on social justice. He condemned the prevalent economic system “where the pernicious effects of sin are evident,” and called on people to rediscover ethics in business and economic relations.

Post-synodal apostolic exhortation

Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Charity) signed 22 February 2007, released in Latin, Italian, English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Polish. It was made available in various languages 13 March 2007 in Rome. The English edition from Libera Editrice Vaticana is 158 pages. This apostolic exhortation "seeks to take up the richness and variety of the reflections and proposals which emerged from the recent Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops..." which was held in 2006.

Motu proprio on Tridentine Mass

On 7 July 2007, Benedict XVI issued the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, declaring that upon "the request of the faithful", celebration of Mass according to the Missal of 1962 (commonly known as the Tridentine Mass), was to be more easily permitted. Stable groups who previously had to petition their bishop to have a Tridentine Mass may now merely request permission from their local priest. While Summorum Pontificum directs that pastors should provide the Tridentine Mass upon the requests of the faithful, it also allows for any qualified priest to offer private celebrations of the Tridentine Mass, to which the faithful may be admitted if they wish. For regularly scheduled public celebrations of the Tridentine Mass, the permission of the priest in charge of the church is required.

In an accompanying letter, the Pope outlined his position concerning questions about the new guidelines. As there were fears that the move would entail a reversal of the Second Vatican Council, Benedict emphasised that the Tridentine Mass would not detract from the Council, and that the Mass of Paul VI would still be the norm and priests were not permitted to refuse to say the Mass in that form. He pointed out that use of Tridentine Mass "was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted." The letter also decried "deformations of the liturgy ... because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal" as the Second Vatican Council was wrongly seen "as authorising or even requiring creativity", mentioning his own experience.

The Pope considered that allowing the Tridentine Mass to those who request it was a means to prevent or heal schism, stating that, on occasions in past history, "not enough was done by the Church’s leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity" and that this "imposes an obligation on us today: to make every effort to enable for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew." Many feel the decree aimed at ending the schism between the Holy See and traditionalist groups such as the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). Darío Castrillón Cardinal Hoyos, the president of the Pontifical Commission that oversees the Tridentine Mass stated that the decree "opened the door for their return". Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the SSPX, expressed "deep gratitude to the Sovereign Pontiff for this great spiritual benefit".

Unicity and Salvific Universality of the Church

Near the end of June 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document approved by Benedict XVI "because some contemporary theological interpretations of Vatican II's ecumenical intent had been 'erroneous or ambiguous' and had prompted confusion and doubt." The document has been seen as restating "key sections of a 2000 text the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, Dominus Iesus."

Consumerism

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (June 2008)

Benedict XVI has condemned excessive consumerism, especially among youth. He stated in December 2007 that "dolescents, youths and even children are easy victims of the corruption of love, deceived by unscrupulous adults who, lying to themselves and to them, draw them into the dead-end streets of consumerism."

In June 2009, he blamed outsourcing for greater availability of consumer goods which lead to downsising of social security systems.

Ecumenical efforts

Speaking at his weekly audience in St Peter's Square on 7 June 2006, Pope Benedict asserted that Jesus himself had entrusted the leadership of the Church to his apostle Peter. "Peter's responsibility thus consists of guaranteeing the communion with Christ," said Pope Benedict. "Let us pray so that the primacy of Peter, entrusted to poor human beings, may always be exercised in this original sense desired by the Lord, so that it will be increasingly recognised in its true meaning by brothers who are still not in communion with us."

Dialogue with other religions

Pope Benedict is open to dialogue with other religious groups, and has sought to improve relations with them throughout his pontificate. He has, however, generated certain controversies in doing so.

Judaism

When Benedict ascended to the Papacy his election was welcomed by the Anti-Defamation League who noted "his great sensitivity to Jewish history and the Holocaust". However, his election received a more reserved response from the United Kingdom's Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who hoped that Benedict would "continue along the path of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II in working to enhance relations with the Jewish people and the State of Israel." The Foreign Minister of Israel also offered more tentative praise, though the Minister believed that "this Pope, considering his historical experience, will be especially committed to an uncompromising fight against anti-Semitism."

Critics have accused Benedict's papacy as being insensitive towards Judaism. The two most prominent instances were the expanding the use of the Tridentine Mass and the lifting of the excommunication on four bishops from the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). In the Good Friday service, the traditional Mass rubrics include a prayer that asks God to lift the veil so they may be delivered from their darkness. This prayer has historically been contentious in Judaic-Catholic relations and the several groups saw the restoration of the Latin Mass as problematic. Among those whose excommunications was lifted was Bishop Richard Williamson, an outspoken Holocaust denier. The lifting of his excommunication led critics to charge that the Pope was condoning his anti-Semitic views.

Islam

Pope Benedict's relations with Islam have been strained at times. On 12 September 2006 Pope Benedict XVI delivered a lecture which touched on Islam at the University of Regensburg in Germany. The pope had previously served as professor of theology at the university, and his lecture was entitled "Faith, Reason and the University—Memories and Reflections".

The lecture received much attention from political and religious authorities. Many Islamic politicians and religious leaders registered their protest against what they said was an insulting mischaracterisation of Islam, although his focus was aimed towards the rationality of religious violence, and its effect on the religion. Muslims were particularly offended by the following quotation from the Pope's speech:

Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

The passage originally appeared in the “Dialogue Held With A Certain Persian, the Worthy Mouterizes, in Anakara of Galatia written in 1391 as an expression of the views of the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus, one of the last Christian rulers before the Fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Ottoman Empire, on such issues as forced conversion, holy war, and the relationship between faith and reason. According to the German text, the Pope's original comment was that the emperor "addresses his interlocutor in an astoundingly harsh—to us surprisingly harsh—way" (wendet er sich in erstaunlich schroffer, uns überraschend schroffer Form). Pope Benedict apologised for any offence he had caused and made a point of visiting Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, and praying in its Blue Mosque.

Pope Benedict XVI planned on 5 March 2008, to meet with Muslim scholars and religious leaders autumn 2008 at a Catholic-Muslim seminar in Rome. That meeting, the "First Meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum," was held from November 4–6, 2008.

Tibetan Buddhism

The Dalai Lama congratulated Pope Benedict XVI upon his election, and visited him in October 2006 in the Vatican City. In 2007 China was accused of using its political influence to stop a meeting between the Pope and the Dalai Lama.

Indigenous American beliefs

While visiting Brazil in May 2007, "the pope sparked controversy by saying that native populations had been 'silently longing' for the Christian faith brought to South America by colonizers." The Pope continued, stating that "the proclamation of Jesus and of his Gospel did not at any point involve an alienation of the pre-Columbus cultures, nor was it the imposition of a foreign culture." President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez demanded an apology, and an indigenous organisation in Ecuador issued a response which stated that "representatives of the Catholic Church of those times, with honourable exceptions, were accomplices, deceivers and beneficiaries of one of the most horrific genocides of all humanity." Later, the pope, speaking Italian, said at a weekly audience that it was:

"not possible to forget the suffering and the injustices inflicted by colonizers against the indigenous population, whose fundamental human rights were often trampled."

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

While visiting the United States on 17 April 2008, Benedict met with International Society for Krishna Consciousness representative Radhika Ramana Dasa; a notable Hindu scholar and disciple of Hanumatpreshaka Swami. On behalf of the Hindu American community, Radhika Ramana Dasa presented a gift of an Om symbol to Benedict.

Apostolic ministry

As Pontiff, Benedict XVI carries out numerous Apostolic activities including journeys across the world and in the Vatican.

Benedict travelled extensively during the first three years of his papacy. In addition to his travels within Italy, Pope Benedict XVI has made two visits to his homeland, Germany, one for World Youth Day and another to visit the towns of his childhood. He has also visited Poland and Spain, where he was enthusiastically received. His visit to Turkey, an overwhelmingly Muslim nation, was initially overshadowed by the controversy about a lecture he had given at Regensburg. His visit was met by nationalist and Islamic protesters and was placed under unprecedented security measures. However, the trip went ahead and Benedict made a joint declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in an attempt to begin to heal the rift between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

In 2007, Pope Benedict visited Brazil in order to address the Bishops' Conference there and canonize Friar Antônio Galvão, an 18th century Franciscan. In June 2007, Benedict made a personal pilgrimage and pastoral visit to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. In September, Benedict undertook a three day visit to Austria, during which he joined Vienna's chief rabbi in a memorial to the 65,000 Viennese Jews who perished in Nazi death camps. During his stay in Austria, he also celebrated Mass at the Marian shrine Mariazell and visited Heiligenkreuz Abbey.

In April 2008 Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the United States since becoming pope. He arrived in Washington, DC where he was formally received at the White House and met privately with U.S. President George W. Bush. While in Washington, the pope addressed representatives of US Catholic universities, met with leaders of other world religions, and celebrated Mass at the Washington Nationals' baseball stadium with 47,000 people. The Pope also met privately with victims of sexual abuse by priests. The pope travelled to New York where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly. Also while in New York, the pope celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, met with disabled children and their families, and attended an event for Catholic youth, where he addressed some 25,000 young people in attendance. On the final day of the pope's visit, he visited the World Trade Center site and later celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium.

In July 2008 the Pope travelled to Australia to attend World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. On 19 July, in St. Mary's Cathedral, he made an apology for child sex abuse perpetrated by the clergy in Australia. On 13 September 2008, at an outdoor Paris Mass attended by 250,000 people, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the modern materialism - the world's love of power, possessions and money as a modern-day plague, comparing it to paganism.

The Pope visited France in September 2008, where he condemned modern materialism. In 2009, he visited Africa (Cameroon, a former German colony, and Angola) for the first time as a Pope. During his visit, he suggested that altering sexual behavior was the answer to Africa's AIDS crisis, and urged Catholics to reach out and convert believers in sorcery.

He visited the Middle East (Jordan, Israel and Palestine) in May 2009.

Pope Benedict's main arena for pastoral activity is the Vatican itself, his Christmas and Easter homilies and Urbi et Orbi are delivered from St Peter's Basilica. The Vatican is also the only regular place where the Pope travels via motor without the protective bullet proof case common to most popemobiles. Despite the more secure setting Pope Benedict has been victim to security risks several times inside Vatican City. On Wednesday, 6 June 2007 during his General Audience a man lept across a barrier, evaded guards and nearly mounted the Pope's vehicle, although he was stopped and Benedict seemed to be unaware of the event. On Thursday, 24 December 2009, while Pope Benedict was proceeding to the altar to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter's Basilica, a woman later identified as 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo, who holds Italian and Swiss citizenships, jumped the barrier and grabbed the pope by his vestments and pulled him to the ground. The 82-year-old fell but was assisted to his feet and he continued to proceed towards the altar to celebrate Mass. Roger Cardinal Etchegaray, 87, the vice-dean of the College of Cardinals was injured, suffering a hip fracture in a fall. Italian police revealed that the woman had previously attempted to accost the Pope at the previous Christmas Eve Mass, but was prevented from doing so.

In his homily, Pope Benedict forgave Susanna Maiolo and urged the world to "wake up" from selfishness and petty affairs, and find time for God and spiritual matters.

Between April 17 and 18, Pope Benedict made an Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Malta, the third papal visit to the archipelago, after Pope John Paul II's two visits back in 1990 and 2001. Following meetings with various dignitaries on his first day on the island, 50,000 people gathered in a drizzle for Papal Mass on the granaries in Floriana. The Pope also met with the Maltese youth at the Valletta Waterfront, where an estimated 10,000 young people turned up to greet him. During his visit the Pope was moved to tears while expressing his shame at cases of abuse on the island during a 20 minute meeting with victims.

Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church

Responses

After sexual abuse cases became the responsibility of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2001, Cardinal Ratzinger, as head of that congregation, made strong efforts to investigate such cases. According to Jason Berry, Ratzinger had "persuaded John Paul to consolidate authority of abuse investigations in his office". According to John L. Allen, Jr., Ratzinger in the following years "acquired a familiarity with the contours of the problem that virtually no other figure in the Catholic church can claim" and "driven by that encounter with what he would later refer to as 'filth' in the church, Ratzinger seems to have undergone something of a 'conversion experience' throughout 2003-04. From that point forward, he and his staff seemed driven by a convert's zeal to clean up the mess". According to Charles J. Scicluna, a former prosecutor handling sexual abuse cases, "Cardinal Ratzinger displayed great wisdom and firmness in handling those cases, also demonstrating great courage in facing some of the most difficult and thorny cases, sine acceptione personarum (without exceptions)". However, it is alleged that some of the efforts of Ratzinger were blocked by Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn explained that Ratzinger "made entirely clear efforts not to cover things up but to tackle and investigate them. This was not always met with approval in the Vatican". According to Schönborn, Cardinal Ratzinger had pressed John Paul II to investigate Hans Hermann Groër, an Austrian cardinal and friend of John Paul accused of sexual abuse. Biographer Andrea Tornielli also suggested that Cardinal Ratzinger had wanted to take action against Marcial Maciel Degollado, the founder of the Legion of Christ, but that John Paul II had defended him. According to Jason Berry, Maciel bought support for himself with lavish gifts to church figures, notably to the pope's private secretary Stanisław Dziwisz. Berry recounts how Ratzinger had refused such a gift in 1997; a witness described him as "tough as nails in a very cordial way". Berry writes that Cardinal Ratzinger "took it on himself to authorize an investigation of Maciel" in 2004, only a week after John Paul II had honored Maciel in a Vatican ceremony, and after years of opposition from the pope and other cardinals. Berry further writes that cardinals Angelo Sodano and Eduardo Martínez Somalo, and Stanisław Dziwisz, staunchly supported Maciel, and that John Paul II loved him. According to Berry, Sodano "pressured" Cardinal Ratzinger to halt the proceedings against Maciel in 1999 and continued to pressure him not to take any action against him. John L. Allen, Jr. writes in the National Catholic Reporter that a "senior Vatican official told NCR" Ratzinger was "operating on the assumption that the charges were not justified" and that this changed after new accusers came forward. After Ratzinger became pope he began proceedings against Maciel and the Legion of Christ and forced Maciel out of active service in the church.

Vincent Nichols writes that Pope Benedict has taken strong action against sexual abuse, and that he, while still a cardinal, "led important changes made in church law: the inclusion in canon law of internet offences against children, the extension of child abuse offences to include the sexual abuse of all under 18, the case by case waiving of the statue of limitation and the establishment of a fast-track dismissal from the clerical state for offenders. He is not an idle observer. His actions speak as well as his words."

In March 2010, the Pope sent a Pastoral Letter to the Catholic Church in Ireland addressing cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests to minors, expressing sorrow, and promising changes in the way accusations of abuse are dealt with. Victim groups claim the letter failed to clarify if secular law enforcement has priority over canon law confidentiality pertaining to internal investigation of abuse allegations. The Pope then promised to introduce measures that would 'safeguard young people in the future' and 'bring to justice' priests who were responsible for abuse. In April, the Vatican issued guidelines on how existing church law should be implemented. The guideline dictates that “Civil law concerning reporting of crimes... should always be followed.” The guideline was intended to follow the norms established by U.S. bishops, although it only requires reporting of "crimes" where required by law, not "allegations" or crimes where not required by law.

Allegations of institutional cover-up

German media reported in March 2010 on a former priest, Father Peter Hullermann from the Diocese of Essen, who was accused of abusing several boys in the 1970s and 1980s. He was removed from his parish assignment, and his transfer to Munich for psychiatric treatment was formally approved by the Archbishop of Munich Cardinal Ratzinger. Hullermann was subsequently allowed to resume his pastoral duties in the archdiocese of Munich, and several years later, he was convicted of sexually abusing other children in a different parish. Questions were raised relating to how much Ratzinger knew about the case and Hullermann's reassignment at the time when he was undergoing treatment.

In early April 2010, attention was drawn to a 1980s sexual abuse case in the United States, in which Cardinal Ratzinger sent a letter concerning the defrocking of Stephen Kiesle that recommended "due caution" and consideration for "good of the universal Church". The letter was described by the Vatican as a standard form letter, and the Vatican denied that it indicated Ratzinger resisted pleas to defrock Kiesle. Kiesle was defrocked in 1987.

Attire

Pope Benedict XVI has re-introduced several papal garments which had previously fallen into disuse. Pope Benedict XVI resumed the use of the traditional red papal shoes, which had not been used since early in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. Contrary to the initial speculation of the press that the shoes had been made by the Italian fashion house Prada, the Vatican announced that the shoes were provided by the pope's personal shoemaker.

On 21 December 2005, the pope began wearing the camauro, the traditional red papal hat usually worn in the winter. It had not been seen since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII (1958–1963). On 6 September 2006 the pope began wearing the red cappello romano (also called a saturno), a wide-brimmed hat for outdoor use. Rarely used by John Paul II, it was more widely worn by his predecessors.

Health

Because of age-related health problems, and in order to have free time to write, he had hoped to retire, and submitted his resignation three times, but had continued at his post in obedience to the wishes of Pope John Paul II. In September 1991, Ratzinger suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, which slightly impaired his eyesight temporarily. This was known to the Conclave that elected him Pope. In August 1992, on a vacation in the Alps, he fell and struck his head against a radiator. In May 2005, the Vatican revealed that he had subsequently suffered another mild stroke; it did not reveal when, other than that it had occurred between 2003 and 2005. France's Philippe Cardinal Barbarin further revealed that since the first stroke, Ratzinger had been suffering from a heart condition as a result of his age, and is currently on medication. In late November 2006, an unconfirmed rumor emerged that Pope Benedict had undergone an operation in preparation for an eventual bypass operation, and that the bronchitis suffered by the Pope has put undue pressure on the Pope's heart. It is notable, however, that he appears to be in far better health than his predecessor was at the age of 79.

On Friday 17 July 2009 Benedict was hospitalised after falling and breaking his right wrist while on vacation in the Alps. His injuries were reported to be minor. Benedict is thought to be right-handed.

Titles

Papal styles of Pope Benedict XVI
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father

The official title of the Pope is His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI; in Latin, Benedictus XVI, Episcopus Romae. However, his rarely used full title is "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God."

Before 1 March 2006, the list of titles also used to contain that of a "Patriarch of the West", which traditionally appeared in that list of titles before "Primate of Italy". The title of "Patriarch of the West" was first adopted in the year 642 by Pope Theodore I, but was rarely used since the East-West Schism of 1054. From the Orthodox perspective, authority in the Church could be traced to the five patriarchates of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. However, some Catholic theologians have argued that the term "Patriarch of the West" has no clear historical or theological basis and was introduced into the papal court in 1870 at the time of the First Vatican Council. Pope Benedict chose to remove the title at a time when discussions with the Orthodox churches have centred on the issue of papal primacy.

Arms

Coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI

Notes The coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI was designed by then Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo (who later was created a Cardinal) soon after the papal election. Benedict's coat of arms has omitted the papal tiara, which traditionally appears in the background to designate the Pope's position as a worldly ruler like a king, replacing it with a simple mitre, emphasising his spiritual authority. Escutcheon Gules, chape in or, with the scallop shell of the second; the dexter chape with a moor's head in natural colour, crowned and collared of the first, the sinister chape a bear trippant in natural colour, carrying a pack gules belted sable Symbolism Scallop shell: The symbolism of the scallop shell is multiple, one of the meanings is thought to represent Saint Augustine. While a doctoral candidate in 1953, Fr. Joseph Ratzinger wrote his dissertation on The People of God and the House of God in Augustine's Teaching is always about the Church, and therefore has a personal connection with the thought of this great Doctor of the Church. Moor of Freising: The Moor's head is an heraldic charge associated with Freising, Germany. Corbinian's bear: A legend states that while travelling to Rome, Saint Corbinian's pack horse was killed by a bear. He commanded the bear to carry the load. Once he arrived, he released it from his service, and it returned to Bavaria. The implication is that "Christianity tamed and domesticated the ferocity of paganism and thus laid the foundations for a great civilisation in the Duchy of Bavaria." At the same time, Corbinian's bear, as God's beast of burden, symbolises the weight of office that Benedict now carries.

Positions on moral and political issues

Birth control and HIV/AIDS

In 2005, the Pope listed several ways to combat the spread of HIV, including chastity, fidelity in marriage and anti-poverty efforts; he also rejected the use of condoms. The alleged Vatican investigation of whether there are any cases when married persons may use condoms to protect against the spread of infections surprised many Catholics in the wake of John Paul II's consistent refusal to consider condom use in response to AIDS. However, the Vatican has since stated that no such change in the Church's teaching can occur. Time Magazine also reported in its 30 April 2006 edition that the Vatican's position remains what it always has been with Vatican officials "flatly dismiss reports that the Vatican is about to release a document that will condone any condom use."

In March 2009, the Pope stated:

I would say that this problem of AIDS cannot be overcome merely with money, necessary though it is. If there is no human dimension, if Africans do not help, the problem cannot be overcome by the distribution of prophylactics: on the contrary, they increase it. The solution must have two elements: firstly, bringing out the human dimension of sexuality, that is to say a spiritual and human renewal that would bring with it a new way of behaving towards others, and secondly, true friendship offered above all to those who are suffering, a willingness to make sacrifices and to practise self-denial, to be alongside the suffering.

Homosexuality

During his time as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) Benedict XVI made several efforts to tackle the issue of homosexuality within the Church and the wider world. In 1986 the CDF sent a letter to all Bishops entitled: On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. The letter condemned a liberal interpretation of the earlier CDF document Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics, which had led to a "benign" attitude "to the homosexual condition itself.". On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons clarified that the Church position on Homosexuality was that "although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder." However the document also condemned homophobic attacks and violence stating "It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs."

In 1992 he again approved CDF documents declaring that homosexual "inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder" and extended this principle to civil law. "Sexual orientation", the document opined, was not equivalent to race or ethnicity, and it declared that it was "not unjust discrimination to take sexual orientation into account."

On 22 December 2008, the Pope gave an end of year message to the Roman Curia in which he talked about gender and the important distinction between men and women. The pope said that the church viewed the distinction as central to human nature, and "asks that this order, set down by creation, be respected". He characterised gender roles which deviated from his view of what gender roles should be as "a violation of the natural order". The church, he said, "should protect man from the destruction of himself". He said a sort of ecology of man was needed, adding: "The tropical forests do deserve our protection; but man, as a creature, does not deserve any less." He attacked what he described as gender theories which "lead towards the self-emancipation of man from creation and the creator"."

LGBT groups such as the Italian Arcigay and German LSVD have announced that they found the Pope's comments homophobic. Aurelio Mancuso, head of Arcigay, saying "A divine programme for men and women is out of line with nature, where the roles are not so clear."

Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, claimed the Pope had not wished specifically to attack homosexuality, and had not mentioned gays or lesbians in his text. Father Lombardi insisted, however, that there had been an overreaction to the Pope's remarks. "He was speaking more generally about gender theories which overlook the fundamental difference in creation between men and women and focus instead on cultural conditioning." Nevertheless, the remarks were interpreted as a call to save mankind from homosexuals and transsexuals.

International relations

Migrants and refugees

In a message released 14 November 2006, during a Vatican press conference for the 2007 annual observance of World Day for Migrants and Refugees, the pope urged the ratification of international conventions and policies that defend all migrants, including refugees, exiles, evacuees, and internally displaced persons. "The church encourages the ratification of the international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families," the pope said. "Much is already being done for the integration of the families of immigrants, although much still remains to be done."

Pope Benedict has also promoted various UN events, such as World Refugee Day, on which he offered up special prayers for refugees and called for the international community to do more to secure refugees' human rights. He also called on Catholic communities and organizations to offer them concrete help.

China

On 28 June 2006, for the first time in more than five years, an official Vatican delegation visited China and met with government officials, signalling a warming between the two states that had previously been locked in conflict. "This is a real gesture by the Vatican and its diplomats," said the Reverend Bernardo Cervellera, director of AsiaNews, a Catholic missionary news service with close links to the Vatican. In sending diplomats to Beijing, the Vatican, under Pope Benedict XVI, is publicly expressing interest in improving relations with China despite the recent conflicts.

In 2007 Benedict sent a letter at Easter to Catholics in China that could have wide-ranging implications for the church's relationship with China's leadership. The letter provides long-requested guidance to Chinese bishops on how to respond to illicitly ordained bishops, as well as how to strengthen ties with the Patriotic Association and the Communist government.

Korea

On 13 November 2006, Benedict said the dispute over the North Korea nuclear weapons program should be resolved through negotiations, in his first public comment on the security issue, a news report said. "The Holy See encourages bilateral or multilateral negotiations, convinced that the solution must be sought through peaceful means and in respect for agreements taken by all sides to obtain the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." Benedict was talking to the new Japanese ambassador to the Vatican.

Turkey

In a 2004 Le Figaro interview, Ratzinger said that Turkey, which is demographically Muslim but governmentally secular by virtue of its state constitution (see Secularism in Turkey), should seek its future in an association of Muslim nations rather than the European Union, which Ratzinger has stated has Christian roots. He said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe and that linking it to Europe would be a mistake.

Later visiting the country to "reiterate the solidarity between the cultures," it was reported that he made a counter-statement backing Turkey's bid to join the EU. Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after meeting the pope upon his arrival in Ankara, the pope's first visit to a majority Muslim country, said that the pope told him that while the Vatican seeks to stay out of politics it desires Turkey's membership in the EU. However, the Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople implied that support for Turkey's membership in the European Union would be contingent on the establishment of religious freedom in Turkey: "In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion." The Declaration also reiterates Pope Benedict XVI's call for Europe to preserve its Christian roots.

Israel

In May 2009 he visited Israel where David D'Or and Dudu Fisher sang for him upon his arrival. This was the third Papal visit to the Holy Land, the previous ones being made by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Global economy

In 2009 the Pope intervened in global economic and political affairs with his third encyclical, Charity in Truth (Latin Caritas in Veritate), which can be viewed on the Vatican's web site. The document sets out the Pope's position on the case for worldwide redistribution of wealth in considerable detail and goes on to discuss the environment, migration, terrorism, sexual tourism, bioethics, energy and population issues. The Financial Times has reported that the Pope's advocacy for a fairer redistribution of wealth has helped set the agenda for the 2009 July G8 summit.

Nuclear energy

Pope Benedict XVI has called for nuclear disarmament. At the same time, he has supported the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a tool for development and the fight against poverty. In his message for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he confirmed: "The Holy See, fully approving of the IAEA's goal, has been a member from the organisation's foundation and continues to support its activity."

Interests

Pope Benedict is known to be deeply interested in classical music, and is himself an accomplished pianist. He has a grand piano in his papal quarters. The Pontiff's favorite composer is Mozart, of whose music the Pope said: "His music is by no means just entertainment; it contains the whole tragedy of human existence." Benedict also stated that Mozart's music affected him greatly as a young man and "deeply penetrated his soul."

Pope Benedict has recorded an album of contemporary classical music in which Benedict sings and recites prayers to the Virgin Mary. The album was set for release on 30 November 2009.

Pope Benedict is also known to be fond of cats. As Cardinal Ratzinger he was known to look after stray cats in Rome. A book called "Joseph and Chico: A Cat Recounts the Life of Pope Benedict XVI" was published in 2007 which told the story of the Pope's life from the feline Chico's perspective. This story was inspired by a real orange tabby Pentling cat, which belonged to the family next door. During his trip to Australia for World Youth Day in 2008 the media reported that festival organizers lent the Pope a grey cat called Bella in order to keep him company during his stay.

See also

• Georg Gänswein - private secretary to Benedict
• List of books by Pope Benedict XVI
• List of encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI
• Papal regalia and insignia - papal attire
• Pope Benedict - list of other popes and antipopes using the name Benedict
• Three Secrets of Fátima - document on the release of the Third Secret of Fatima
• Works of Pope Benedict XVI - literature written by Pope Benedict XVI

References

Notes

1. The precise number of popes has been a matter for scholarly debate for centuries. John A. Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary (1980) lists Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) as 264th Pope, making Benedict XVI the 265th.
2. Owen, Richard (6 June 2008). "Vatican to publish entire work by bestselling author Pope Benedict XVI". London: Times Online. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
3. Moore, Malcolm (6 June 2008). "Pope Benedict XVI's book is a best-seller". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
4. "Pope Benedict XVI: Quick Facts". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
5. Willey, David (13 May 2005). "Pope Benedict's creature comforts". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
6. "Eine Schule mit dem Segen des Papstes". Passauer Neue Presse (in German). Neue Presse Verlags-GmbH. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
7. The Third Reich in Power, Richard J Evans, 2005, pg 272
8. ^ "New Pope Defied Nazis As Teen During WWII". USA Today. Associated Press. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
9. Allen, John (14 October 2005). "Anti-Nazi Prelate Beatified". The Word from Rome. National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
10. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger ; translated from the German by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis. (1998). Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977. Ignatious Press. p. 99. ISBN 9780898707021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
11. Van Biema, David (24 April 2005). "The Turning Point". Time. Time Warner. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
12. Wakin, Daniel J (24 April 2005). "Turbulence on Campus in 60's Hardened Views of Future Pope". New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2005.
13. Ostling, Richard N.; Moody, John; Morris, Nomi (6 December 1993). "Keeper of the Straight and Narrow". Time. Time Warner. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
14. Dulles, s.j., Avery (1983). "The Catholicity of the Augsburg Confession". The Journal of Religion. 63 (4): 337–354. doi:10.1086/487060. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
15. Fahlbusch, Erwin; Bromiley, Geoffrey William; Barrett, David B. (1999). "Evangelical Catholicity". The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9004116958.
16. Thavis, John; Wooden, Cindy (19 April 2005). "Cardinal Ratzinger, guardian of church doctrine, elected 265th pope". Catholic News Service. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
17. Doward, Jamie (24 April 2005). "Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry". London: The Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
18. "UK Bishops Angered by BBC Attack on Pope". EWTN. Catholic News Agency. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
19. "Pope seeks immunity in Texas abuse case", Chicago Sun-Times, 17 August 2005.
20. The man who should be Pope Issue: 5 March 2005, The Spectator.co.uk
21. Pope 'prayed not to be elected' Quote from a CNN Interview, 25 April 2005.
22. Official translation taken from www.vatican.va
23. Pope Benedict XVI's General Audience Speech, The Vatican, 27 April 2005.
24. "Canonisation of Pope John Paul II". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
25. alexander drummer. "Canonization process". Zenit.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
26. alexander drummer (28 June 2005). "Inauguration of beatification process". Zenit.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
27. "Communiqué on beatification process". Vatican.va. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
28. "First Canonizations". Vatican.va. 23 October 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
29. "Canonizations in May-June 2007". Ewtn.com. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
30. "Parallel Greek New Testament". Greeknewtestament.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
31. Pope Announces Canonisation of India's First Native Woman Saint from Vatican Radio
32. Pope canonises 'lepers' apostle' and four others, Agence France-Presse, 11 October 2009.
33. "Homily on Christ". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
34. "Address to the priests of Rome". Ewtn.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
35. "Address to cardinals pre-conclave". Ewtn.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
37. ^ alexander drummer (15 April 2007). "Jesus of Nazareth". Zenit.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
38. L'Osservatore Romano (9 October 2002) "St. Josemaría Escrivá and Opus Dei: God is very much at work in our world today".
39. alexander drummer (7 February 2006). "Address on Friendship with God". Zenit.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
40. Address on Dictatorship of relativism. Retrieved 5 August 2006.
41. Inaugural Address at the Ecclesial Diocesan Convention. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
42. "Dictatorship of relativism". Nationalcatholicreporter.org. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
43. Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief And World Religions, Ignatius Press, 2004
44. Benedict XVI, Address to the World Youth Day, Cologne, 20 August 2005
45. "Pope Condemns Same-Sex Unions As 'Pseudo-Matrimony,' Reaffirms Opposition To Abortion", WSVN-TV, 6 June 2005.
46. alexander drummer (29 July 2005). "Address on Christianity as the Religion according to Reason". Zenit.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
47. "Pope Benedict XVI, papal encyclical, Deus Caritas Est". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
48. Pope's first encyclical is disquisition on love and sex (The Times, 25 January 2006)
49. The pope needs a theologian? Former papal adviser reveals why (Catholic News Service, 30 December 2005)
50. Vatican 'cashes in' by putting price on the Pope's copyright (The Times, 23 January 2006)
51. John Thavis - Catholic Online (30 November 2007). "BREAKING: People need God to have hope, pope says in new encyclical". Catholic.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
52. Website of the Vatican:Encyclicals Spe Salvi
53. ^ Donadio, Rachel (7 July 2009). "Pope Urges Forming New World Economic Order to Work for the 'Common Good'". New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
54. Sacramentum Caritatis 5
55. ^ "Pope Allows Worldwide Use of Old Latin Mass". Catholic Information Service for Africa. 10 July 2007.
56. ^ Pope Benedict XVI. "Letter of His Holiness Benedict Xvi to the Bishops on the Occasion of the Publication of the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Data Summorum Pontificum, On the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior To The Reform of 1970".
57. Article 5 §4 of the motu proprio
58. Jason Burke. "Criticism over return of Latin Mass". The Hindu International.
59. ^ NICOLE WINFIELD. "Pope: Other Christians not true churches". Associated Press.
60. "Pope: ever-younger children led by adults into consumerism". International Herald Tribune. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
61. "Letter of 29 June 2009". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
62. Press Release: ADL Welcomes Election of Cardinal Ratzinger as New Pope. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
63. ^ "In quotes: Reaction to Pope election". BBC News. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
64. Vatican to release Benedict XVI's letter on the use of the Tridentine Mass tomorrow Catholic News Agency 6 July 2007
65. "Mikulanis says ADL jumped gun, got its facts wrong" San Diego Jewish World. Vol. 1, Number 67. 6 July 2007.
66. Paulson, Michael (24 February 2009). "O'Malley meets Jews over Holocaust flap". Articles of Faith. Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
67. "What Is Not True About the Good Friday Prayer for Jews". Zenit, the World Seen From Rome. Innovative Media. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
68. Anthony J. Cernera and Eugene Korn (26 November 1986). "America: The National Catholic Weekly, '' The Latin Liturgy and the Jews'', Anthony J. Cernera and Eugene Korn, 10-08-2007". Americamagazine.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "OCTOBER 8, 2007" ignored (help)
69. " Seminary sacks 'Holocaust bishop.'" BBC News. 9 February 2009. 1 June 2009.
70. Willan, Philip. "Pope readmits Holocaust-denying priest to the church." The Independent. 25 January 2009. 1 June 2009.
71. "Williamson's Colleagues Under Fire: SSPX in Germany Criticized over Anti-Semitic Statements." Der Spiegel. 10 February 2009. 29 May 2009.

    "The latest issue of the SSPX's newsletter for German-speaking countries ... contains several anti-Semitic statements. 'The Jewish people were once the chosen people. But the majority of the people denied the Messiah on his first coming,' reads the February issue's cover story .... According to the newsletter article, this is why the Bible's Gospel of Matthew states, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children,' a phrase historically used by some Christians to justify anti-Semitism."

72. "The Society of St. Pius X: Mired in Antisemitism." ADL. 26 January 2009. 29 May 2009. "SSPX has promoted theological and conspiratorial anti-Semitism among its adherents."
73. Liphshiz, Cnaan. "Report: Vatican readmits society that propagates anti-Semitism." Haaretz. 29 May 2009. "The site from Germany ... clarifies that 'contemporary Jews are for sure guilty of the murder of God, as long as they don't recognise Christ as God.'"
74. BBC Article. "In quotes: Muslim reaction to Pope", BBC News, 16 September 2006. Accessed 12 May 2008.
75. ^ "Article:"Pope sorry for offending Muslims," last accessed 17 September 2006". BBC News. 17 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
76. "Lecture of the Holy Father - Faith, Reason and the University Memories and Reflections", Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 12 September 2006 Template:De icon
77. "Pope to hold seminar with Muslims", CNN, 5 March 2008. Accessed 13 May 2008.
78. Administrator (8 November 2008). "First Seminar of the Catholic‐Muslim Forum Rome, 4‐6 November 2008 Final Declaration". 209.85.173.132. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
79. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama Greets New Pope", Phayul.com, 20 April 2005; Korean Catholics Welcome New Pontiff", English.chosun.com, 20 April 2005
80. "China blamed for absence of Papal audience for Dalai Lama", AKI - Adnkronos International, retrieve 19 June 2009
81. ^ Fisher, Ian (24 May 2007). "Pope softens comments on S. American natives". The New York Times.
82. Fisher, Ian.Pope tries to quell anger over speech he gave in Brazil, International Herald Tribune, 23 May 2007. Accessed 13 May 2008.
83. ISKCON Scholar To Meet With The Pope ISKCON News
84. Young Vaisnava Scholar to Bring a Gift to the Pope ISKCON News
85. Faculty Bhaktivedanta College
86. A Boise wunderkind turned religion professor will greet Pope: Ravi Gupta will present the pontiff a Hindu symbol as a token of goodwill among faiths. Idaho Statesman
87. ISKCON Scholar Greets Pope on Behalf Of US Hindus ISKCON News
88. Despite missteps, pope reaching out to other faiths Reuters
89. Moore, Molly. "Turks Protest Pope's Coming Visit", The Washington Post, 27 November 2006. Accessed 13 May 2008.
90. Massive security for Pope's Turkey visit, Ireland On-Line, 28 November 2006. Accessed 13 May 2008.
91. Vatican radio, Pope Benedict XVI Arrives in Vienna
92. Pope honours Austrian Jewish dead, BBC News, 7 September 2007. Accessed 13 May 2008.
93. Heiligenkreuz webpage. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
94. "Pope Benedict XVI begins first U.S. tour", CNN, 16 April 2008. Accessed 13 May 2008.
95. Associated Press. "Bush, Thousands of Fans Welcome Pope at White House on His Birthday", Fox News, 16 April 2008. Accessed 13 May 2008.
96. Nadine Elsibai (17 April 2008). "Pope Benedict Says Mass Before 47,000 in New Washington Stadium". Bloomberg L.P.
97. United Nations General Assembly Session 62 Verbotim Report 95. A/62/PV.95 page 3. Pope Benedict XVI Holy See 18 April 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
98. Duin, Julia. "Youths revel in pope's message", The Washington Times, 20 April 2008. Accessed 13 May 2008.
99. "Pope Benedict XVI to visit United States". Archdiocese of New Orleans. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
100. "google.com, Pope apologises for 'evil' of child sex abuse". Afp.google.com. AFP. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
101. "uk.reuters.com, Pope sorry for Church sexual abuse". Uk.reuters.com. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
102. "huliq.com, Pope Condemns Materialism as "Pagan"". Huliq.com. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
103. ukpress.google.com, Pope drinks spring water at shrine
104. Wednesday, 6 June 2007
105. "Pope OK after woman knocks him down at Mass". Usatoday.com. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
106. WINFIELD, NICOLE (25 December 2009). "Pope fine for Christmas blessing after fall". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
107. "Pope Benedict forgives Susanna Maiolo one day after she knocked him down during Christmas Eve Mass". Nydailynews.com. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
108. "Woman knocks down pope at Christmas Eve Mass". Wtop.com. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
109. "Wrap-up: Pope Benedict's historic Malta visit ends". The Times of Malta. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
110. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1267034/Pope-tears-expressing-shame-victims-priest-paedophile-Malta-visit.html
111. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7086738.ece
112. ^ http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/money-paved-way-maciels-influence-vatican
113. ^ http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/will-ratzingers-past-trump-benedicts-present
114. http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4151:promoter-of-justice-at-doctrine-of-faith-on-paedophilia&catid=196:vis-vatican-information-service&Itemid=127
115. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Pope-John-Paul-ignored-abuse-of-2000-boys-Report/articleshow/5759289.cms
116. ^ http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/vatican-tries-to-shift-blame-for-abuse-on-to-john-paul-2123826.html
117. http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/update/bn051806.htm
118. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article7076344.ece
119. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20100319_church-ireland_en.html
120. "Pope's letter fails to calm anger over abuse". Washington Times. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
121. http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Pope+apologises+paedophile+priests/2708083/story.html
122. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121282&sectionid=3510212
123. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/03/21/popes_letter_strikes_a_mixed_chord/?page=2
124. "Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations". The Vatican. Retrieved 23 April 2010. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 44 (help)
125. Winfield, Nicole (12 April 2010). "Vatican to bishops: Follow law, report sex abuse". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
126. Kulisch, Nicholas Kulich (25 March 2010). "Memo to Pope Described Transfer of Pedophile Priest". New York Times. Retrieved 25 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
127. Pope Benedict hit by new Church child abuse allegations BBC, 9 April 2010.
128. The Document Trail: The Rev. Stephen Kiesle
129. ^ Stacy Meichtry (10 April 2010). "Church Faces Hurdles to Imposing Abuse Law". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
130. Does The Pope Wear Prada? 25 April 2006 in the Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
131. "Vatican: Pope Benedict's gaffes result of high tension". Hurriyet.com.tr. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
132. "Pope has had second stroke", The Sunday Times, (London) 1 May 2005.
133. "Pope Benedict XVI Leaves Hospital After Breaking Wrist in Fall - Europe | Map | News". FOXNews.com. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
135. Coat of Arms of His Holiness Benedict XVI, The Vatican.
136. BBC News. (2005). Pope rejects condoms for Africa
137. 24/04/2006 - 11:41:50 (24 April 2006). "Protection against AIDS". Breakingnews.ie. Retrieved 2 February 2010. {{cite web}}: |author= has numeric name (help)
138. ^ By JEFF ISRAELY Sunday, 30 Apr. 2006 (30 April 2006). "Time article "Condom Fight: The Vatican Strikes Back"". Time.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
139. "Interview of the holy father Benedict XVI during the flight to africa". 17 March 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
140. On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons: http://www.vatican.edu/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html
141. OPCHP
142. Saletan, William (29 November 2005). "Gland Inquisitor: Pope Benedict's antigay tendencies". Slate. Retrieved 30 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
143. ^ Kington, Tom (24 December 2008). "Pope angers campaigners with speech seen as attack on homosexuality". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
144. Donadio, Rachel (22 December 2008). "The Vatican: In Speech, Pope Calls Homosexual Behavior a Violation". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
145. "LSVD:Warum hetzt der Papst immer wieder gegen Homosexuelle?". Lsvd.de. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
146. Catholic Online (1 July 2003). "Pope Benedict XVI message for 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees". Catholic.org. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
147. "Pope offers prayers to refugees for United Nations' World Refugee Day". Catholicnews.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
148. Beijing receives Vatican delegation, signalling a thaw
149. "Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics, 27 May 2007". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
150. Pope urges talks to make Korean Peninsula nuclear free
151. Jim Bencivenga, "Navigating a clash of civilizations: Examining the new pope's old comments on Turkey's entry into the European Union," Christian Science Monitor. 22 April 2005.
152. "Pope Benedict Backs Turkey's European Union Bid". Bloomberg.com. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
153. "Pope calls for religious exchange". BBC News. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
154. "Pope did not change stance on Turkey and EU", Spero News, 30 November 2006
155. "Common Declaration by His Holiness Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I", 30 November 2006
156. Cashman, Greer Fay (12 May 2009). "Grapevine: The eyes have it". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
157. "David D'Or and Dudu Fisher Sing for the Pope". Consulate General of Israel in New York. 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
158. His holy father , Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2009). "CARITAS IN VERITATE "Charity in Truth"". Vatican Publishing House. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
159. Guy Dinmore (7 July 2009). "Pope condemns capitalism's 'failures'". The Financial Times. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
160. Ruth Gledhill, (7 July 2009). "Pope Benedict XVI calls for new economic system based on love in G8 message". London: The Times. Retrieved 7 July 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
161. "Pope calls for disarmament, backs nuke energy". Catholic News. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
162. ^ Willey, David (13 May 2005). "Pope Benedict's creature comforts". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
163. Infoplease.com
164. ^ "Mozart: Catholic, Master Mason, favorite of the pope, National Catholic Reporter". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
165. 9:37 a.m. ET (31 July 2009). "Music Album retrieved 8/02/2009". MSNBC. Retrieved 2 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
166. Did the Aussies give the pope a cat for company? |publisher=ap.google.com
167. "Pope's smitten with a kitten". News.com.au. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
168. "Pope rests with piano and cat ahead of World Youth Day". Afp.google.com. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2009.

Further reading

Books by Pope Benedict

• Daughter Zion: Meditations on the Church's Marian Belief (1983)
• Schauen auf den Durchbohrten: Versuche zu einer spirituellen Christologie — The Theological Basis for a Spiritual Christology (1984) (English title Behold the Pierced One, Ignatius, 1986)
• Ratzinger, Joseph (1985). The Ratzinger Report. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. ISBN 0898700809.
• Dogma and Preaching (Franciscan Herald, 1985)
• Feast of Faith: Approaches to a Theology of the Liturgy (Ignatius, 1986)
• Principles of Christian Morality (Ignatius, 1986)
• Journey Towards Easter: Retreat Given in the Vatican in the Presence of Pope John Paul II (1987)
• Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology (Ignatius, 1987)
• Ratzinger, Joseph (1988). Johann Auer and Joseph Ratzinger (ed.). Eschatology, Death and Eternal Life. Dogmatic Theology. Vol. 9. Washington: Catholic University of America Press. ISBN 0813206332.
• Mary: God's Yes to Man : Pope John Paul II Encyclical Letter : Mother of the Redeemer (Ignatius, 1988)
• "In the Beginning...": A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall (Our Sunday Visitor, 1990)
• To Look on Christ: Exercises in Faith, Hope, and Love (Crossroad, 1991)
• Co-Workers of the Truth: Meditations for Every Day of the Year (Ignatius, 1992)
• The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood (Ignatius, 1993)
• A Turning Point for Europe?: The Church in the Modern World-Assessment and Forecast (Ignatius, 1994)
• The Nature and Mission of Theology: Essays to Orient Theology in Today's Debates (Ignatius, 1995)
• Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today (Ignatius, 1996)
• Gospel, Catechesis, Catechism: Sidelights on the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Ignatius, 1997)
• Ratzinger, Joseph (1997). Salt of the Earth: an interview with Peter Seewald. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. ISBN 0898706408.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: Corrigenda (1998)
• Ad Tuendam Fidem — to Protect the Faith (1998)
• Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977 (Ignatius, 1998)
• Many Religions, One Covenant: Israel, the Church, and the World (1999)
• The Spirit of the Liturgy (2000)
• Introduction to Christianity, revised ed. (Ignatius, 2004)
• God and the World: A Conversation With Peter Seewald (Ignatius, 2002)
• God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life (Ignatius, 2003)
• Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief And World Religions (Ignatius, 2004)
• Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday 2005, Introduction, and Meditations and prayers on the 14 Stations of the Cross.
• The End of Time?: The Provocation of Talking about God (2005)
• Pilgrim Fellowship Of Faith: The Church As Communion (Ignatius, 2005)
• On the Way to Jesus Christ (Ignatius, 2005)
• God's Revolution (Ignatius, 2006)
• Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures (Ignatius, 2006)
• Values in a Time of Upheaval (Ignatius, 2006)
• The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion, co-authored with Jürgen Habermas, (Ignatius, 2007)
• Pope Benedict XVI (2006). God Is Love(Deus Caritas Est), First Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI. City: USCCB Publisher. ISBN 1574557580.
• Pope Benedict XVI (2007). Jesus of Nazareth: from the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Garden City: Doubleday. ISBN 0385523416.
• Pope Benedict XVI (2007). The Apostles. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor. ISBN 9781592764051.
• Pope Benedict XVI (2005). Robert Moynihan (ed.). Let God's Light Shine Forth:The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI. Garden City: Doubleday. ISBN 0385507925.

Literature about him

• Allen, John L.: Cardinal Ratzinger: the Vatican's enforcer of the faith. – New York: Continuum, 2000
• Herrmann, Horst: Benedikt XVI. Der neue Papst aus Deutschland. – Berlin 2005
• Nichols OP, Aidan: Theology of Joseph Ratzinger. – Edinburgh; T&T Clark, 1988
• Pater Prior Maximilian Heim: Joseph Ratzinger — Kirchliche Existenz und existenzielle Theologie unter dem Anspruch von Lumen gentium (diss.).
• Twomey, D. Vincent, S.V.D.: Pope Benedict XVI: The Conscience of Our Age (A Theological Portrait). – San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007
• Wagner, Karl: Kardinal Ratzinger: der Erzbischof in München und Freising in Wort und Bild. – München : Pfeiffer, 1977

Biographies

• Allen, John L. The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church. NY: Doubleday, 2005. ISBN 0-385-51320-8.
• Allen, John L. Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. ISBN 0-8264-1786-8. This is a reprint of Allen's 2000 book Cardinal Ratzinger: the Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith.
• Bardazzi, Marco. In the Vineyard of the Lord : The Life, Faith, and Teachings of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. New York: Rizzoli International, 2005. ISBN 0-8478-2801-8
• Bunson, Matthew. We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor. ISBN 1-59276-180-1.
• Pursell, Brennan, Benedict of Bavaria: An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland (Circle Press, 2008). ISBN 1-933271-17-5.
• Tobin, Greg. Holy Father : Pope Benedict XVI: Pontiff for a New Era. Sterling, 2005. ISBN 1-4027-3172-8.
• Weigel, George. God's Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church, Harper Collins, 2005. ISBN 0-06-621331-2.

Documentaries

• The Keys of the Kingdom, from John Paul II to Benedict XVI, produced by Vatican Television Center, distributed by HDH Communications, 2006.

External links

• Vatican: the Holy See – Vatican web site
• The Holy See - The Holy Father - Benedict XVI – Vatican web site about the Holy Father Benedict XVI
• Vatican: Election Vatican web page about the Papal Conclave and Benedict's first acts as Pope
• The Vatican (Official YouTube channel from the Vatican about main activities of the Pope and relevant Vatican events)
• "Pope Benedict XVI". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

Encyclicals by Benedict XVI

• Deus Caritas Est – encyclical God is Love
• Spe Salvi – encyclical In hope we were saved
• Caritas in Veritate – encyclical In Charity and Truth

Ordination history of Pope Benedict XVI
History Priestly ordination Place Freising Cathedral , Freising, Bavaria , Germany  Episcopal consecration Consecrated by Josef Stangl Date 28 May 1977
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI as principal consecrator Alberto Bovone 12 May 1984 Zygmunt Zimowski 25 May 2002 Josef Clemens 6 January 2004 Bruno Forte 8 September 2004 Mieczysław Mokrzycki 29 September 2007 Francesco Giovanni Brugnaro 29 September 2007 Gianfranco Ravasi 29 September 2007 Tommaso Caputo 29 September 2007 Sergio Pagano 29 September 2007 Vincenzo Di Mauro 29 September 2007 Gabriele Giordano Caccia 12 September 2009 Franco Coppola 12 September 2009 Pietro Parolin 12 September 2009 Raffaello Martinelli 12 September 2009 Giorgio Corbellini 12 September 2009

v t e Pope Benedict XVI
Born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022
Biography	Early life Georg Ratzinger (brother) Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 2005 papal conclave Resignation Death and funeral
Acts as Pope	Cardinals created People declared venerable People beatified Saints canonized
Theology	Theology Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus) Summorum Pontificum (The Supreme Pontiffs) Introduction to Christianity Ecumenism Judaism Islam
Encyclicals	Deus caritas est (God Is Love) Spe salvi (In Hope We Are Saved) Caritas in veritate (Charity in Truth)
Exhortations	Sacramentum caritatis (On the Eucharist) Verbum Domini (On the Word of the Lord) Africae munus (On the Church in Africa) Ecclesia in Medio Oriente (On the Church in the Middle East)
Books	Introduction to Christianity The Ratzinger Report Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life The Spirit of the Liturgy Truth and Tolerance Jesus of Nazareth From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration Holy Week The Infancy Narratives
Travels	Pastoral visits United States United Kingdom state visit
Related	Bibliography Ceremonial Coat of arms Ratzinger Foundation Vatican leaks scandal His Holiness: The Secret Papers of Benedict XVI Alma Mater (2009 album) Secrets of the Vatican (2014 television film) The Two Popes (2019 film)
Catholicism Portal

Template:Persondata Template:Link FA

• 1927 births
• Living people
• Cardinal-bishops of Ostia
• Christian philosophers
• Christian writers
• Current national leaders
• Deans of the College of Cardinals
• German cardinals
• German military personnel of World War II
• German popes
• German prisoners of war
• German theologians
• International Theological Commission
• Members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
• Members of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Participants in the Second Vatican Council
• People from the District of Altötting
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Popes
• Reigning monarchs
• Roman Catholic Archbishops of Munich and Freising
• Roman Catholic theologians
• Sovereigns of Vatican City
• University of Bonn faculty
• University of Munich alumni
• University of Münster faculty
• University of Paris alumni
• University of Regensburg faculty
• University of Tübingen faculty
• Vatican City people
• World War II prisoners of war held by the United States
• Cardinals created by Pope Paul VI