Pope Benedict XVI: biography and photos

Benedict XVI renounced the throne - this news not so long ago stunned the religious world, and especially the Catholics. The abdication of the pope from the throne last occurred several centuries ago. Usually they succeeded each other in connection with death. Such an extraordinary act of a holy man attached to it the influence not only of the Catholic public, but also representatives of other faiths, as well as the media of the whole world.

Young Years of the Pope

In the small village of Marktl-am-Inn on the eve of Easter, the family of the gendarme was born on April 16, 1927, Josef Alois Ratzinger - this is the real name that Benedict XVI had. He was the youngest child in the family. When the child was five years old, the family moved to the city of Aushau, which is located in the picturesque Alpine mountains. At the age of 10, Josef was a pupil of the classical gymnasium in the city of Traunstein. This school he chose his father, because he was one of the supporters of National Socialism. At the age of fourteen, Josef enters the ranks of the fascist organization Hitler Youth. Many historians argue that joining the fascist organization at that time was an indispensable condition for all boys who reached this age.

Youth years

The activities of Josef Alois Ratzinger as a minister of the church begins in 1939, at that time he becomes a pupil of the pre-Seminary. During the Second World War, he happened to get into the youth part of the anti-aircraft defense as an assistant. He studied in the city of Munich at the Gymnasium Maximilian. At the age of 17, Josef was enrolled in the Austrian region. This moment in the biography of Pope Benedict XVI is not very fond of remembering. Service in the army did not suit him, and in 1945 he deserted. These were difficult years for the young man, having fled the army, he returned to the city of Traunstein. At the time, the headquarters of the American army was stationed in his parents' house. Joseph Ratzinger was arrested, and then sent to a prison camp. A few months later, he was released.

In 1946-1951, Josef Ratzinger received a higher education in the Theological Institute for the specialization "Theology and Philosophy". In 1951, Benedict 16, a film about which was filmed not so long ago, received a holy order. In the Cathedral of Freising, the priests of Joseph Ratzinger were initiated by Cardinal Michael Faulhaber, who was archbishop. Then in 1953, Josef Ratzinger wrote a work on theology at the University of Munich. As a result of this work, he entered the history of Germany as the best theologian of the country.

Mature years of the Pope

In 1972, Ratzinger worked as a teacher of theology at a Bonn higher education institution. In 1966 he is the best expert on dogmatic theology in Tübingen. Further in 1972, Ratzinger becomes one of the founders of the famous journal Communio, whose name translates as "Communion". This journal on theology and culture is still available today. In the spring of 1977, Josef Ratzinger was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising. On June 27, he was appointed Cardinal Pope Paul VI. In 1980, the Cardinal was appointed head of the Council for the Affairs of the laity. Subsequently, Pope Paul VI invited him to become head of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Service in the Church

If Josef Ratzinger took this post, it could lead to his departure from the Munich Department and there would then be a need to move to the Vatican. Therefore, Josef Ratzinger refused the proposed position of the head of the Congregation. In 1981, he agreed to his appointment as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Vatican and then moved to the Vatican. At the same time, he refuses to be shepherd.

In the Vatican in 1993, Joseph Ratzinger was appointed bishop of Velletri-Senyi. In 2000 he became Bishop of Osti. Then, from 2002, he becomes the dean of the College of Cardinals. Becoming a cardinal, he replenishes the ranks of the members of the council of Ecclesia Dei. Thus, he has since been a major theologian in the Vatican, and therefore his views on the main issues relating to society appear to be the position of the Vatican. Ratzinger acted as an opponent of abortion, so in the Vatican they are unacceptable.

Education

The activities carried out by Benedict XVI testify to the fact that he is a highly educated person. He speaks several languages well: German, English, Italian, Spanish, Ancient Greek and Hebrew. The Pope also authored numerous works: "Truth and Tolerance", "God and Peace" and others. He is the author of the book "Introduction to Christianity", which became an international bestseller.

Pope is distinguished by the conservatism of views and thinking. He condemns homosexual relationships, same-sex marriages, divorce, and cloning. Among other things, he is an opponent of feminism. He believes that feminism undermines the foundations of marriage and family, as well as the differences between God and the stronger sex and the weak. Conservative views can be read in his books. In them he considers the conservative course of the formation of the Church, he is also dissatisfied with the mixture of different cultures that take place in some Western countries, he believes that modern culture is contrary to religion and morality.

The Pope

The Pope in Germany was nicknamed Panzerkardinal, which in translation means "cardinal-armadillo", he is distinguished by his intolerance of liberalism in the Catholic Church. But at the same time Germany, like other countries, was pleased to learn the news about the appointment of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger by the Pope. On May 7, 2005, he, in addition to the bishop of Rome, solemnly took the chair of the Moscow diocese. In 2013, the Pope announced that he wants to leave the post, due to the fact that he is in old age.

Josef Ratzinger, like his predecessor, the Pope, supports the existing course and policy, which aims at peaceful coexistence of the Catholic Church and other confessions. In turn, Pope Benedict XVI always spoke out against armed conflicts around the world, in defense of civilians.