The life and times of Pope Benedict XVI can be described as a life well lived and spent. A life dedicated to the service of God.
The contributions of the Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholic faith spans over decades and across global boundaries.
Today, after spending more than eight decades, the Pope slept peacefully according to a statement from the Vatican Spokesman, Matteo Bruni.
It is on the bane of his exit that this article was born. In this article, we will look at the humble beginning of the Pope, family, his contributions and how he lived for the past eight decades.
- Where Was Pope Benedict XVI Born?
Pope Benedict XVI (whose given name is Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger) was the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013.
He was born in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany on April 16, 1927, and ordained as a priest in 1951.
Born into a devout Catholic household, Ratzinger received his early education at a local school in Traunstein.
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Father was a police officer and while his mum was a housekeeper, and he was the oldest of three children.
To set out for life, Pope Benedict XVI as a young man studied philosophy, theology, and literature at the University of Munich and the University of Freising.
After his studies, he was drafted into the German Army in 1943, but he was later released because of a case of early onset of trench fever.
He returned to his studies and was ordained as a priest in 1951.
- Pope Benedict XVI Achievements
While serving as a priest in the Catholic fold, Pope Benedict XVI held a number of important positions within the Church, including Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Dean of the College of Cardinals, before being elected Pope in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.
Pope Benedict XVI was known for his conservative views and his strong emphasis on traditional Catholic teachings.
He worked to promote the Church’s social teachings, particularly on issues such as poverty and the environment.
During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI also worked to improve relations with other faiths, particularly Judaism and Islam.
He served as a professor of theology at several universities in Germany and eventually became the Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977.
Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in 2013, becoming the first Pope to do so in over 600 years.
He cited his advanced age and declining health as the reasons for his resignation. Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI as the head of the Catholic Church.
He was the first Pope to be elected from outside Italy in over 400 years, and he served as the head of the Catholic Church until his resignation in 2013, becoming the first Pope to do so in over 600 years.
Following his resignation, he lived a quiet and reserved life in Monastery until his last days.
On Saturday, 31st December, he died peacefully at about 9:34 in Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican at 95years, according to a statement by the Vatican Spokesman, Matteo Bruni.
The statement said,
“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.
