Joseph Ratzinger

Benedict XVI - Joseph Ratzinger was born in 1927 in Marktl on the Inn in the German province of Bavaria. After his studies and priestly ordination, he taught theology at the universities of Munich, Bonn, Münster, Tübingen and Regensburg. During the Second Vatican Council, he was the theological advisor to Cardinal Frings. After an extremely active and notable theological activity, in 1977 he was appointed archbishop of Munich and held that office until 1981, when John Paul II. appointed head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the most important Vatican institution. He remained in that position until the death of John Paul II. April 2, 2005. A few weeks later, at the conclave on April 19, 2005, he was elected as the 265th successor of St. Petra. The pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI ends on February 28, 2013 with his renunciation of the office of the Roman bishop.