# Pope Benedict XVI

_265 th pope of the Catholic Church (2005–2013)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xvi
Last updated: 2026-11-04

> Pope Benedict XVI 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. He is the most recent Pope to take the name Benedict.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 16 April 1927 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Birth house of Benedict XVI ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P19))
- **Died:** 31 December 2022 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P570))
- **Place of death:** Vatican City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Germany; Vatican City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P27))
- **Occupation:** Latin Catholic priest; religious writer; university teacher; philosopher; transitional deacon; Latin Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P106))
- **Education:** LMU Munich; Ducal Georgianum ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P69))
- **Official website:** vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.html ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P856))
- **Positions held:** 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) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P39))
- **Awards:** Commander of the Legion of Honour; Bavarian Order of Merit; Bayerische Verfassungsmedaille in Gold; Stephanus Award; honorary doctorate; Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art; honorary doctor of Babeș-Bolyai University; honorary citizenship; Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin; Order of Karl Valentin; honorary doctor of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt; honorary doctorate of the University of Navarre; honorary doctorate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru; honorary doctor of the University of Wrocław ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494#P166))

## 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.

## Related

- [Pope Sylvester III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-sylvester-iii)
- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Benedict XI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xi)
- [Pope Innocent VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-vi)
- [Pope Alexander IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-iv)
- [Pope Gregory IX](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-ix)
- [Pope Innocent V](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-v)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Benedict XVI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q2494](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2494) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Papst Benedikt XVI in Berlin 2011.jpg by WDKrause (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papst_Benedikt_XVI_in_Berlin_2011.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

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.

## Cite this page

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