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[[Image:XVI.jpg|right|[[Pope Benedict XVI|His Holiness Benedict XVI]]|thumb]]His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927 , in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]) is was the current [[Pope]] (2005-2013) of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He succeeded Pope [[John Paul II]]. On 11 February28, 2013 , he announced resigned the papacy stating that his resignation for 28 February, "strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/11/pope-benedict-xvi-resigning-on-feb-28-due-to-age-health-reasons-conclave/ Pope Benedict XVI resigning on Feb.28]</ref>

He was born in Marktl am Inn, [[Germany]] , on April 16, 1927. As a child, he lived in Traunstein where much of his philosophy developed. Ratzinger joined the [[Hitler Youth]] in 1939 - membership being required by law - but was unenthusiastic and refused to attend meetings.<ref name="new_pope_defied_nazis">http://bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/new_pope_defied_nazis.htm</ref> At the end of 1944, he was drafted into the German Army and assigned to the Traustein Garrison. He deserted in April or May 1945. <ref name="new_pope_defied_nazis" /><ref>Blanco, Pablo. A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger.</ref>

On November 6, 1998, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals. On November 30, 2002 , he was elected Dean.

On [[File:Pope Benedict XVI waves from plane 2008.jpg|thumb|Pope Benedict XVI waves to cheering crowd on his arrival to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, USA.]]In April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the [[United States]]. He celebrated mass at in [[Washington , D.C.]] in a baseball stadium and then at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and also at Yankee Stadium in [[New York City]]. During this journey he became the first pope to visit an American [[synagogue]].

''"We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth,"'' said President [[George W. Bush]] in welcoming Benedict to the [[White House]].

{{cquote| ''Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the "Good News" of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people.''}}

*[httphttps://wwwarchive.vatican.vais/news_services/or/or_eng/text.html#1 SXZYk Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.] Regarding child sexual abuse by members of the Church.*[http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-xvi-announces-his-resignation-at-end Full text of Pope's declaration of resignation]