Topic
Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was the 265th Pope, having been elected in April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. At 14, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth, a legal requirement. In 1945, he deserted the German army and was taken prisoner by the U.S. Army. Ratzinger received a doctorate in theology at the University of Munich in 1953, having been ordained as a priest two years earlier. He is a Conservative who during his papacy advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries. On February 11, 2013, he became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to resign.
TOPIC
Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was the 265th Pope, having been elected in April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. At 14, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth, a legal requirement. In 1945, he deserted the German army and was taken prisoner by the U.S. Army. Ratzinger received a doctorate in theology at the University of Munich in 1953, having been ordained as a priest two years earlier. He is a Conservative who during his papacy advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries. On February 11, 2013, he became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to resign.
- The ceremony was marked by the coronavirus pandemic with two of the cardinals staying at home while the rest eschewed the usual celebrations
- The cardinal candidates were required to undergo 10 days of Vatican-mandated quarantine at the pope’s hotel
Theodore McCarrick was found guilty by the Vatican in 2018 of the abuse of teenagers in the 1970s as well as years of misconduct.
Theodore McCarrick was found guilty by the Vatican in 2018 of the abuse of teenagers in the 1970s as well as years of misconduct.
Retired former pope Benedict sought to calm a dispute within the Vatican, claiming his name was erroneously attributed as co-author to a new book with a conservative cardinal.
Retired former pope Benedict sought to calm a dispute within the Vatican, claiming his name was erroneously attributed as co-author to a new book with a conservative cardinal.
He had promised to remain ‘hidden from the world’ when he retired in 2013 and pledged his obedience to the new pope. But retired Pope Benedict has broken his silence by co-authoring a bombshell book.
He had promised to remain ‘hidden from the world’ when he retired in 2013 and pledged his obedience to the new pope. But retired Pope Benedict has broken his silence by co-authoring a bombshell book.
Playing Pope Benedict and XVI and Pope Francis respectively, Hopkins and Pryce shine whenever The Two Popes sees the pair banter and gently argue about everything from the finer points of Catholic theology to the Beatles.
Playing Pope Benedict and XVI and Pope Francis respectively, Hopkins and Pryce shine whenever The Two Popes sees the pair banter and gently argue about everything from the finer points of Catholic theology to the Beatles.
‘Catastrophically irresponsible’ essay published in Catholic News Agency and other conservative media also points to church laws that protected priests.
‘Catastrophically irresponsible’ essay published in Catholic News Agency and other conservative media also points to church laws that protected priests.
The trial this week of a Vatican computer whiz over his alleged role in an embarrassing scandal of filched confidential papal documents is offering a chance for an insider glimpse at the Holy See’s security workings. Among those expected to testify in the trial, which begins on Monday in a Vatican City tribunal, are the pope’s top bodyguard, a commander of the legendary Swiss Guards and a Vatican security official connected to an Italian company with expertise in detecting eavesdropping devices.
The trial this week of a Vatican computer whiz over his alleged role in an embarrassing scandal of filched confidential papal documents is offering a chance for an insider glimpse at the Holy See’s security workings. Among those expected to testify in the trial, which begins on Monday in a Vatican City tribunal, are the pope’s top bodyguard, a commander of the legendary Swiss Guards and a Vatican security official connected to an Italian company with expertise in detecting eavesdropping devices.
Colombian leftist rebels faced a new deadline for striking a peace deal with the government after President Juan Manuel Santos warned they have until November to reach a negotiated end to Latin America's longest-running insurgency.
Colombian leftist rebels faced a new deadline for striking a peace deal with the government after President Juan Manuel Santos warned they have until November to reach a negotiated end to Latin America's longest-running insurgency.
Pope Benedict has appointed the Holy See's first ambassador to Malaysia, 18 months after the two sides established diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Najib Razak said. The appointment of Archbishop Joseph Marino as the first Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia comes amid continued tensions between Christians and Muslims in the country.
Pope Benedict has appointed the Holy See's first ambassador to Malaysia, 18 months after the two sides established diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Najib Razak said. The appointment of Archbishop Joseph Marino as the first Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia comes amid continued tensions between Christians and Muslims in the country.
Following is an English translation of the declaration Pope Benedict gave in Latin at a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican.
Following is an English translation of the declaration Pope Benedict gave in Latin at a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican.
Vatican spokesman the Reverent Federico Lombardi said that Vatican rules on papal succession are open to interpretation and that “this is a question that people are discussing.”
Vatican spokesman the Reverent Federico Lombardi said that Vatican rules on papal succession are open to interpretation and that “this is a question that people are discussing.”
Even before the discussions began, the first day was overshadowed by revelations of another scandal, with Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien (pictured) admitting that he had engaged in sexual misconduct not befitting a priest, archbishop or a person of his position.
Even before the discussions began, the first day was overshadowed by revelations of another scandal, with Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien (pictured) admitting that he had engaged in sexual misconduct not befitting a priest, archbishop or a person of his position.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops says that since 1950, more than 6,100 priests have been accused of paedophilia. About 16,000 victims have been identified, and US$2.5 billion has been spent on damages or rehabilitation therapy.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops says that since 1950, more than 6,100 priests have been accused of paedophilia. About 16,000 victims have been identified, and US$2.5 billion has been spent on damages or rehabilitation therapy.
The government is sending out conflicting signals. On the one hand, we face a shortage of everything: we compete for hospital beds, milk powder, school places, housing, and even when we die, we compete for a place for our ashes.
The government is sending out conflicting signals. On the one hand, we face a shortage of everything: we compete for hospital beds, milk powder, school places, housing, and even when we die, we compete for a place for our ashes.
The 85-year-old pontiff announced on Monday that old age had sapped him of the strength required to lead the world's 1.1 billion Catholics. Benedict had a heart pacemaker installed some time ago but was not suffering from poor health, a Vatican spokesman said. It had not been generally known that the 85-year-old pope had been fitted with a pacemaker.
The 85-year-old pontiff announced on Monday that old age had sapped him of the strength required to lead the world's 1.1 billion Catholics. Benedict had a heart pacemaker installed some time ago but was not suffering from poor health, a Vatican spokesman said. It had not been generally known that the 85-year-old pope had been fitted with a pacemaker.