Pope Benedict XVI

Joseph Ratzinger, one of the leading theologians of the twentieth century, served for twenty-four years as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before his election. His first encyclical was Deus Caritas Est, “God is love,” and he wrote a three-volume life of Jesus. On 28 February 2013, citing his failing strength, he resigned the papacy, the first pope to do so since 1415. He lived on in prayer as Pope Emeritus in the Vatican and died on 31 December 2022.

Pontificate

19 April 2005 – 28 February 2013 (7 years, 10 months)

Birth name

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger

Born

16 April 1927, Marktl, Bavaria

Died

31 December 2022, Vatican City

Preceded by

Pope John Paul II

Succeeded by

Pope Francis

Read more

Wikipedia