Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, served as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from April 19, 2005, until his resignation on February 28, 2013. He was the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and his decision to step down surprised many.
Before his papacy, Benedict XVI had a distinguished career as a theologian and cardinal. He was born in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany. In 1951, he was ordained as a priest, and he went on to become a professor of theology. He later served as the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, and then as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position he held for over 20 years.
Benedict XVI's papacy was marked by a focus on doctrinal orthodoxy and a commitment to traditional Catholic teachings. He issued the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum," which relaxed restrictions on the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. His tenure also included efforts to address issues such as the clergy sex abuse scandal and the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religious traditions.
Citing health reasons and the physical and mental demands of the papal office, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, 2013. After his resignation, he took on the title of Pope Emeritus and withdrew from public life. His decision to step down was a significant and rare event in the history of the Catholic Church.
He died in died 31 December 2022 in Vatican City
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