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[[Image:Pope Benedict XVI 1.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Image:Pope Benedict XVI 1.jpg|right|200px]]

His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927 in [[Bavaria]]) is the current [[Pope]] (2005-2013) of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He succeeded Pope [[John Paul II]]. On 11 February, 2013 he announced his resignation for 28 February, 2013.

His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927, in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]) is the current [[Pope]] (2005-2013) of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He succeeded Pope [[John Paul II]]. On February 11, 2013, he announced that he will resign the papacy on February 28, 2013, stating that his "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>

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

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>

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>

Ratzinger's father opposed Nazism.

Ratzinger's father opposed Nazism.

==College Positions==

==College Positions==

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

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

==Accession to the Papacy==

==Accession to the Papacy==

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On April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the [[United States]]. He celebrated mass at [[Washington D.C.]] in a baseball stadium and then at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and also Yankee Stadium in [[New York City]]. During this journey he became the first pope to visit an American [[synagogue]].  

In April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the [[United States]]. He celebrated mass in [[Washington, D.C.]] in a baseball stadium and then at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and 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 [[George W. Bush]] welcoming Benedict to the [[White House]].

"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]].

==Social Networking==

==Social Networking==

The Vatican has expressed its desire to communicate to the world's 1 billion Catholics via the internet. The Pope has created the website [http://www.pope2you.net Pope2You] with applications geared toward [[Facebook]], its [[YouTube]] video channel, [[iPhone]] apps and WikiCath. Presentation of the message says,

The Vatican has expressed its desire to communicate to the world's 1 billion Catholics via the internet. The Pope has created the website [http://www.pope2you.net Pope2You] with applications geared toward [[Facebook]], its [[YouTube]] video channel, [[iPhone]] apps and WikiCath. Presentation of the message says,

{{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.''}}

{{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.}}

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[http://flagspot.net/flags/va_ben16.html Personal Flag and Arms of Benedict XVI]

*[http://flagspot.net/flags/va_ben16.html Personal Flag and Arms of Benedict XVI]

*[http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_eng/text.html#1 Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.] Regarding child sexual abuse by members of the Church.

*[http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_eng/text.html#1 Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.] Regarding child sexual abuse by members of the Church.

 

==Footnotes==

==Footnotes==

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