Pope Benedict XVI: First Pontiff in Nearly 600 Years to Resign Dies at 9

Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, a German theologian who became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign. Born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl, Bavaria, he was known for his scholarship, his emphasis on faith and reason and his quiet manner.

Ratzinger served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 to 2005, one of the most senior posts in the Vatican. He was elected pope on April 19, 2005, and took the name Benedict. He published the encyclicals Deus caritas est, Spe salvi in 2007 and Caritas in veritate in 2009. On February 28, 2013, he resigned, the first pope to do so since 1415, and became pope emeritus.

Benedict's older brother, Georg Ratzinger, was a priest and choir director, and his sister Maria managed his household until her death in 1991. He lived in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City after his resignation. He died there on December 31, 2022, at age 95. Remembered for his intellect and humility, he left a deep theological legacy.

Achievements: Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1981-2005), elected pope (2005), published the encyclical Spe salvi (2007), resigned the papacy (2013).

Birth: April 16, 1927 - Marktl, Bavaria, Germany.

Profession: Head of the Catholic Church (2005-2013), theologian and author.

Interesting Facts: At age five, after meeting Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber, he announced that he wanted to become a cardinal. He chose the name Benedict in honor of Benedict XV and Benedict of Nursia.