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.

Feb 12, 2026 · Benedict XVI was bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. His papacy faced several challenges, including the effects of the scandal beginning in the late …

ABUSE OF MINORS. THE CHURCH'S RESPONSE.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was a reluctant pope who never wanted to be pontiff. So it should have come as little surprise that with a few words uttered in Latin on a Vatican holiday in 2013, Benedict …

Apr 21, 2025 · Benedict XVI served as pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013 when he resigned. Read about his early life, Nazi ties, priesthood, death, and more.

An attractive digital knowledge portal as the authorized location where the “Life, Thought, and Work” of Benedict XVI is collected for the whole world.

On April 18, 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected the 264th successor of Saint Peter and chose the name Benedict XVI. His papacy testifies to both a scholarly churchman, having extensively …

May 14, 2018 · He chose the pontifical name Benedict which means “the blessed”, in honor of both Pope Benedict XV and Saint Benedict of Nursia. He then served as the Pope from April 2005 to …

Jan 5, 2026 · Three years after the death of Benedict XVI, this EWTN Vatican Special looks back at the life of the theologian-pope to discover his legacy.

3 days ago · Prayer as a fundamental act The unpublished letter from Benedict XVI, titled “Introduction: Reflections on Christian Prayer,” focuses on the nature of prayer as the core of Christian life. The …