When was Pope Benedict XVI born?

Pope Benedict XVI was born on 16 April 1927 in Birth house of Benedict XVI.

What positions has Pope Benedict XVI held?

Positions held by Pope Benedict XVI include: Pope emeritus (2013–2023); Pope (2005–2013); cardinal-bishop of Ostia (2002–2005); Dean of the College of Cardinals (2002–2005); Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni (1993–2005).

Where did Pope Benedict XVI study?

Pope Benedict XVI was educated at LMU Munich, Ducal Georgianum.

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Pope Benedict XVI

265 th pope of the Catholic Church (2005–2013)

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Pope Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Following his resignation, he chose to be known as "pope emeritus", a title he held until his death on 31 December 2022. In addition to this, he was an important philosopher and theologian of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Quick facts

Born: 16 April 1927 wd
Place of birth: Birth house of Benedict XVI wd
Died: 31 December 2022 wd
Place of death: Vatican City wd
Citizenship: Germany, Vatican City wd
Occupation: Latin Catholic priest, religious writer, university teacher, philosopher, transitional deacon, Latin Catholic bishop wd
Education: LMU Munich, Ducal Georgianum wd
Official website: vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.html wd

Positions held wd

Pope emeritus (28 February 2013 – 5 January 2023)
Pope (19 April 2005 – 28 February 2013)
cardinal-bishop of Ostia (30 November 2002 – 19 April 2005)
Dean of the College of Cardinals (27 November 2002 – 19 April 2005)
Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni (5 April 1993 – 19 April 2005)
prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (25 November 1981 – 13 May 2005)
cardinal priest (27 June 1977 – 5 April 1993)
cardinal (since 27 June 1977)
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Munich and Freising (24 March 1977 – 15 February 1982)

Awards wd

Commander of the Legion of Honour (1998)
Bavarian Order of Merit (1977)
Bayerische Verfassungsmedaille in Gold
Stephanus Award
honorary doctorate (2015)
Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1995)
honorary doctor of Babeș-Bolyai University
honorary citizenship (2018)
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1994)
honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin (1988)
Order of Karl Valentin (1989)
honorary doctor of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (1987)
honorary doctorate of the University of Navarre
honorary doctorate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (1986)
honorary doctor of the University of Wrocław (2000)

About

Ordained as a priest in 1951 in Bavaria, Ratzinger embarked on an academic career and established himself as a highly regarded theologian by the late 1950s. He was appointed a full professor in 1958 when aged 31. After a long career as a professor of theology at several German universities, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977, an unusual promotion for someone who had only been ordained to the episcopate less than a month prior and not having much pastoral experience. In 1981, he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the most important dicasteries of the Roman Curia. In 2002, he also became Dean of the College of Cardinals. Before becoming pope, he had been "a major figure on the Vatican stage for a quarter of a century"; he had had an influence "second to none when it came to setting church priorities and directions" as one of John Paul II's closest confidants. Following the death of John Paul II on 2 April 2005, a conclave elected Ratzinger as his successor on 19 April; he chose Benedict XVI as his papal name in honour of Benedict XV and Benedict of Nursia.

Benedict's writings were prolific and generally defended traditional Catholic doctrine, values, and liturgy. He was originally a liberal theologian but adopted conservative views after 1968. During his papacy, Benedict advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased…

Questions

When was Pope Benedict XVI born?: Pope Benedict XVI was born on 16 April 1927 in Birth house of Benedict XVI.
What positions has Pope Benedict XVI held?: Positions held by Pope Benedict XVI include: Pope emeritus (2013–2023); Pope (2005–2013); cardinal-bishop of Ostia (2002–2005); Dean of the College of Cardinals (2002–2005); Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni (1993–2005).
Where did Pope Benedict XVI study?: Pope Benedict XVI was educated at LMU Munich, Ducal Georgianum.

Sources

Last updated 3 November 2026 · facts checked 4 November 2026

Cite this page

"Pope Benedict XVI". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xvi. Retrieved 4 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict XVI, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Papst Benedikt XVI in Berlin 2011.jpg — WDKrause, CC BY-SA 3.0.

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