Joseph Ratzinger as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

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Private works Introduction to Christianity Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life Truth and Tolerance The Ratzinger Report Regensburg lecture Jesus of Nazareth series: Jesus of Nazareth Holy Week The Infancy Narratives The Spirit of the Liturgy
Movements Communio Second Vatican Council Peritus
Magisterial works Prefect of the CDF Dominus Iesus Papacy (as Benedict XVI) Caritas in veritate Spe salvi Deus caritas est Lumen fidei
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Joseph Ratzinger (1927–2022) was named by Pope John Paul II on 25 November 1981 as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) formerly known as the Holy Office and, especially around the 16th century, as the Roman Inquisition.

He previously became both Archbishop of Munich and Freising and a cardinal in 1977. He resigned as archbishop in early 1982, in light of his new duties as prefect.

While continuing to be prefect, Ratzinger was promoted within the College of Cardinals to become cardinal bishop of Velletri-Segni in 1993, and became the college's vice-dean in 1998 and dean (senior cardinal) in 2002. He was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, becoming pope emeritus on his retirement in 2013.