Pope Benedict XVI

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI in 2010
Papacy began	19 April 2005
Papacy ended	28 February 2013
Predecessor	John Paul II
Successor	Francis
Orders
Ordination	29 June 1951 by Michael von Faulhaber
Consecration	28 May 1977 by Josef Stangl
Created cardinal	27 June 1977 by Pope Paul VI
Personal details
Birth name	Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
Born	(1927-04-16)16 April 1927 Marktl, Germany
Died	31 December 2022(2022-12-31) (aged 95) Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City
Buried	St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Nationality	German (with Vatican citizenship)
Residence	Mater Ecclesiae Monastery
Parents	Joseph Ratzinger, Sr. and Maria Ratzinger (née Peintner)
Previous post	Archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino (1977–1993) President of the International Theological Commission (1981–2005) Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1981–2005) President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (1981–2005) Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni (1993–2005) Dean of the College of Cardinals (2002–2005) Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia (2002–2005)
Motto	Cooperatores veritatis (cooperators of the truth)[1]
Signature
Coat of arms
Other popes named Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was a Pope of the Catholic Church. He served as the 265th Pope from 2005 to 2013. In that position, he was both the leader of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Vatican City State. Benedict was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave after the death of Pope John Paul II. He celebrated his papal inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005. He took possession of his cathedral, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005.

On 11 February 2013, Benedict announced his resignation in a speech in Latin before the cardinals. His reason was a "lack of strength of mind and body" because of his old age. His resignation became effective on 28 February 2013. He was the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415. He was the first to resign by choice since Pope Celestine V in 1294. As Pope Emeritus, Benedict retains the style of His Holiness, and the title of Pope. He will continue to dress in the papal colour of white. He was succeeded by Pope Francis on 13 March 2013. He moved into the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery for his retirement on 2 May 2013. In September 2020, Benedict XVI became the longest-lived pope at aged 93.^[2]

1. ↑ "Biography of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI". Vatican.va. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
2. ↑ "Benedicto XVI es ya el papa más anciano de toda la historia". www.msn.com (in Spanish). DW News. Retrieved September 3, 2020.