Benedict XVI

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2005.04.19 to
Pope #265
John Paul II (1978-2005)

Joseph Alois Ratzinger
1927.04.16 in Bavaria, Germany

Pope Benedict XVI

Biography:

Born in Marktl am Inn, Germany. Son of Josef, an inspector of police.

Pontificate

Benedict XVI is considered a conservative regarding Catholic doctrine. He was a close confidant to Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), who appointed him in charge of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981, the same organisation once known as the Inquisition. His hard-line role saw his opponents nickname him the "Panzerkardinal", a reference to a WWII German tank.

Coronation

Election

He was elected pope at the age of 78, making him the oldest to be elected since Clement XII (1730-1740). He was a cardinal for longer than any pope since Benedict XIII (1724-1730). Upon becoming Pope, he gave up the roles of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and Dean of the College of Cardinals. He speaks as many as 10 languages, including English, French, Italian, and German fluently.

Nazi Youth

Age 13

Ratzinger joined the Nazi Youth in 1941 at the age of 14. Although it's been widely reported that he was forced to join, in his book, Memoires, he doesn't mention being forced or of any resistance at all. In his autobiography, Salt of the Earth (1997), he wrote that his older brother Georg was obliged to join, but that he later registered himself in it. By 1939, the Nazi Youth was mandatory for boys 10 and up, so in all probability his father registered him knowing it would otherwise be expected. His brother Georg however, told The Times of London recently, that their "father was a bitter enemy of the Nazis". With the exception of listening to foreign news radio, his family did not make any passive resistance, as many other German families had in his area, by not enlisting their children in the Nazi Youth, or hiding fugitives from the Nazis.

Family Anti-Nazi

Benedict XVI (standing right) with family

At least one of his family, a grand-uncle Georg Ratzinger, who was a Catholic priest and also a member of the Reichstag (parliament), wrote many anti-Semitic pamphlets. Some critics have also pointed out that there were many Catholic families in his town that resisted, and that his father, who had been a policeman, would have been very much aware. In his second autobiography Milestones: Memoirs, 1927-77 (1998), he writes that his father was very vocal in public against the Nazis. In his earlier book though Salt of the Earth, he seems to contradict this, stating that his father "made no public opposition" to the Nazis, and further that it "wouldn't have been possible".

Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst (1942)

White Rose Members

There were many Germans who resisted, even in his home town. The well-known resistance group called the White Rose operated in his area, handing out anti-Nazi pamphlets. Some of the leaflets were critical of those Germans who did nothing. Their leaders were eventually executed for their bravery, and considered heros today.
In 1937, only a short distance from his home, one family hid the resistance fighter, Hans Braxenthaler, from the SS who searched door to door looking for him in the area. Eventually he was betrayed and chose to shoot himself.
Elizabeth Lohner, who also lived in Traunstein at the time, and who's brother-in-law was sent to Dachau as a conscientious objector, was quoted in The Times of London, "It was possible to resist, and those people set an example for others," she said. "The Ratzingers were young and had made a different choice."

Nazi Army

Prisoners working at a munitions factory at Dachau

Dachau Slave Labour

In 1943, at the age of 16, Ratzinger's seminary class were conscripted as anti-aircraft soldiers, responsible for defending a BMW plant outside Munich that made aircraft engines. This was the same factory where the prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp were forced to labour at that time. In September 1944, he was moved to a post by the Hungarian border where he was tasked with digging anti-tank ditches. Here he saw many Jews being herded off to death camps. In Dec 1944, he was drafted into the Army and stationed near his home town of Traunstein.

Desertion

In May 1945 Ratzinger wrapped his arm in a sling and deserted the army. Although many publications have cited this as evidence of his anti-Nazi stance, Benedict wrote that it wasn't until after hearing of Hitler's suicide, that he left. This was actually when most of the soldiers deserted their posts, especially with the fear of being captured by the advancing Russian troops. Benedict further wrote that he was caught deserting, but that the soldiers, being "weary of the war" themselves, let him go.

Captured German POWs being led to concentration camps in Germany

German POWs led to de-Nazification camps

He returned to his home of Traunstein, and about a week later was captured by the Americans. They had been using his parent's home as their headquarters. He was taken to a prisoner of war camp outside of Ulm, Germany, where he was put through de-Nazification classes. A few weeks later he was released on 19 June, 1945. He returned to Traunstein again, and then within a short period, entered the Catholic semimary.

Critical of the Allies

In his Milestones, Ratzinger actually criticises the American liberation as slow, "unhurried." He also comments how the soldiers forced him to stand with his family to take pictures so they could "take home with them souvenirs of a defeated army." A far less consequence compared to what Nazi soldiers did to their prisoners. There is no critique of the German army.

Benedict XVI Praying at the coffin of the late Pope John Paul II

Praying to the late JPII

Canonisation of John Paul II

Immediatetly after his election, Benedict XVI opened the cause for Beatification and Canonisation of "Pope John Paul II, The Great." The current canon law requires that five years must pass before this process can begin. In the photo here, he is seen praying to the late pontiff. This is not a new practice, but is often criticised by Protestant Christians as spiritism.

Supporting Brothels

Brothel

Regarding prostitution, Benedict XVI indicates that he supports the institution of 'brothels' within society, as was done in the Middle Ages. In his book Salt of the Earth, journalist Peter Seewald made the statement: "In the Middle Ages there were public brothels that were even in part run by the local church." Benedict's response:

"There’s a passage in Saint Augustine where he asks what one should do about this problem. And he answers that, given man’s makeup, it’s better for the order of the commonwealth when prostitution exists in an ordered form."
- Joseph Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth, 1996, p.99

Saint Augustine (354-430) believed that prostitution was a "necessary evil", although he believed that enjoying sex, even with your spouse, was sinful. He preached that marriage itself was a "medicine for immorality." He himself left his wife and mistress for a life of celibacy.

Ratzinger slaps a Reporter's hand when questioned about a Vatican cover up of sex abuse

Reporter Inquiring on Abuse Cases

Regarding Pedophile Priests

As Prefect of the Doctrine of Faith, Ratzinger was responsible for investigating the cases of priest sexual abuse. He has often been criticised with trying to cover up the allegations. In Dec 2002, Ratzinger told a news conference that he believes the American media were exagerating the abuse reports, stating that "less than one percent of priests are guilty of acts of this type."

According to an article in the British Observer, Ratzinger wrote a letter dated 18 May 2001, to every Catholic bishop, informing them of the church's policy towards priest sexual abuse. In the letter he gave strict orders to the bishops that any priest sexual abuse case they received, were to be handled internally, and that any evidence which could incriminate a priest with the local ordinances, are to be kept confidential for up to 10 years. The letter adds that in the case of a pedophile act, the 10 years doesn't begin until after the victim reaches 18. The letter concludes with a reminder than any breach of this order could result in penalties, including possible excommunication.

Violent Islam

On 12 Sept 2006, Benedict XVI gave a speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany, where he spoke about a need for dialog between various faiths. He quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor, who characterised some of the teachings of Muhammad as requiring violence in order to spread Islam. A portion of the quote:

Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.
- Emperor Manuel II Paleologus (1350-1425)

Anglican Church firebombed by radical Islamists in Nablus

Attack on a church

On the same day, many Islamic clerics began publicly condemning the pope's comments and demanding an immediate apology.

Muslim activists burn an effigy of Pope Benedict XVI during a protest in Srinagar, India

Muslim protest

On 15 Sept 2006, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City was firebombed. A group claiming responsibility said it was protesting the pope's comments. The next day, four more churches in Nablus, West Bank were torched. Another group stated the same reasons.

On 16 Sept 2006, the Vatican released a statement apologising for the misinterpretation of his speech, saying that the Pope

sincerely regrets that certain passages of his address could have sounded offensive to the sensitivities of the Muslim faithful, and should have been interpreted in a manner that in no way corresponds to his intentions.

Body of Sr Leonella

The following day, a leading Somali cleric gave a speech calling for the pope's death and urged his followers to murder anyone who offends Mohammed. Within hours of his speech, in Mogadishu, Italian nun, Sister Leonella Sgorbati, 65, was shot four times in the back by two gunmen outside of a Children's hospital where she volunteered. She later died in hospital from her wounds. Her bodyguard and a hospital worker were also killed. One witness, Mohamud Derow said, "These gunmen always look for white people to kill, and now the pope gave them the reason to do their worst." A church in Basra, Iraq was also attacked.

A year later on 21 Sept 2007, the Pope tested the Islamic extremists again, in a speech defending religious liberty, and against those nations which are intollerant to conversion of religion. The speech was given to the Centrist Democrat International, which represent Christian Democratic parties in over 100 nations.

On 22 Mar 2008, Pope Benedict baptised "Italy's most prominent Muslim" as a covert to Catholicism, in an open ceremony during an Easter service vigil at the Vatican. Magdi Allam, 55, an Egyptian-born Italian journalist, well-known for his articles critical of radical Islam, and defending Israel's right to exist.

Other Religions

Benedict XVI praying with the Mufti of Istanbul in the Blue Mosque

Benedict XVI praying in the Blue Mosque

On 30 November 2006, Benedict XVI travelled to Istanbul, Turkey where he visited the Blue Mosque. In a procession with several prominent Muftis, the pope entered the 17th century mosque without shoes, as required by Islamic precepts. He prayed together with his Muslim hosts, facing east towards Mecca, in a one-minute prayer for peace.

The pope's visit to a mosque was meant as a "sign of respect", as well as to repair damage done in reaction to his speech in Germany one year earlier. The pope further announced his support for Turkey to join the European Union. A position he had previously been against.

After a meeting with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, the pontiff called for unity among the Christian faiths, and said, "The division which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world and an obstacle to the proclamation of the Gospel".

Rulers & Events:

2006:      Second Israel-Lebanon War

2006:      North Korea declares nuclear weapons status 2006.10.09

             USA (1945), USSR (1949), UK (1952), France (1960), China (1964)

             Israel (unoffical ~1967), India (1974), Pakistan (1998)

2007:      European Community (EC) adds 2, total 27 members (2007.01.01)

             Bulgaria and Romania join