Pope Benedict XVI

German papal leader

Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany.

A conservative theologian who served as Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under John Paul II, he became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, citing declining health.

He was succeeded by Pope Francis.

VaticanPapal city-state
Saint Peter's BasilicaCatholic headquarters church
Sistine ChapelVatican worship hall
College of CardinalsPapal electoral body
CatholicismPapal Christian denomination

papacy · conclave · white smoke · canonization · Eschatology · Bavaria · Regensburg · Christology · preacher · sainthood · Catholic Church · resignation · Vicar of Christ · Nazi Germany · leader · Mother Teresa · shepherd · Vatican City

Categories

PopesNicholas II, Zachary
Bavarian People
Catholic figurescardinals, archbishops, abbots, bishops, friars
TheologiansBarth, Merton, Edwards, Newman, Augustine
Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, papal, parishes
CatholicismVatican, cardinals, Holy Communion, Roman Catholicism, Holy See

Opposites

papal succession/office holder status

Pope Benedict XVIPope Francis

Current head of Catholicism

antipope · modernists · Pope John Paul II · layperson

religious authority vs. secular/anti-religious authority

Pope Benedict XVIatheist

One denying gods exist

secularist · Joseph Stalin · Mao Zedong · antitheist

christian denominational leadership

Pope Benedict XVIMartin Luther

Protestant Reformation founder

John Calvin · Archbishop of Canterbury · Billy Graham · Dalai Lama

Family

pope, popes, popery, popish, papist, Benedict, benediction

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G