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

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

[[Image:XVI.jpg|right|[[Pope Benedict XVI|His Holiness Benedict XVI]]|thumb]]

[[Image:XVI.jpg|right|'''His Holiness Benedict XVI'''|thumb]]

His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927, in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]) was the [[Pope]] (2005-2013) of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He succeeded Pope [[John Paul II]]. On February 28, 2013, he resigned the papacy 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>

His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927, in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]) was the [[Pope]] (2005-2013) of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He succeeded Pope [[John Paul II]]. On February 28, 2013, he resigned the papacy 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.

[[File:Papa Benedetto XVI PD WC.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Pope Benedict XVI, 2005.]]

[[File:Papa Benedetto XVI PD WC.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Pope Benedict XVI, 2005.]]

[[Category: Religion]]

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[[Category:Popes|Benedict XVI, Pope]]

[[Category:Popes|Benedict XVI, Pope]]

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