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Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany) is the 265thThe precise number of popes has been a matter for scholarly debate for centuries. John A. Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary (1980) lists Pope John Paul II as 264th Pope, making Benedict XVI the 265th. and reigning Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of Vatican City State. He was elected on April 19, 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on April 24, 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on May 7, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded John Paul II, who died in the beginning of April 2005.
One of the best-known theologians since the 1960s, and a prolific author, he is viewed as a staunch defender and steadfast advocate of Catholic traditional doctrine and moral values and their importance in the survival of humanity. He is considered to be conservative and a close ally and friend of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. He served as a professor at Pope Benedict XVI/German universities affiliated with Pope Benedict XVI, and was a theological expert at the Second Vatican Council before becoming Archbishop of Munich and Freising and Cardinal. At the time of his election as Pope, he had been Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (curial heads lose their positions upon the death of a pope) and was Dean of the College of Cardinals.
During his papacy, Benedict XVI has particularly emphasized what he sees as a need for Europe to return to fundamental Christian values, in response to increasing de-Christianisation and secularisation in many developed countries. For this, he has identified relativism's denial of objective truth as the central problem of the faith and has taught about the crucial importance for the Catholic Church and humanity to contemplate God's love, and thus has reaffirmed the urgent "importance of prayer in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work."
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The Holy See: Benedict XVI - Vatican site. Features biography, works, and speeches.
ABC News: Pope Benedict XVI - Includes news reports and interactive features.
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BBC News: Pope Benedict XVI - The BBC's coverage of the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
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Cardinal Ratzinger - A brief biography at Catholic Pages.
Cultural Catholic - Pope Benedict XVI - Pope Benedict XVI is fluent in four languages, relaxes with Bach and Mozart, loves cats, and his 1953 doctoral thesis was entitled, The People and House of God in Saint Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church.
Meta Description: [ Pope Benedict XVI is fluent in four languages, relaxes with Mozart, and took retreats at Roman Benedictine monasteries. His 1953 doctoral thesis was entitled, The People and House
of God in Saint Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church. ]
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger - Links - Links to several sites about Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.
Meta Description: [ HomePage for Professor Mary Shivanandan on Christendom Awake Catholic website: dedicated to re-energising the Church in Culture. ]
List of Popes: Benedict XVI - Brief biography including his early life in Nazi Germany and actions as pope.
Papa Ratzi Post - Michael S. Rose's weblog about the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
Papacy in Transition - Features articles, opinions, and photographs. From The New Zealand Herald.
Meta Description: [ Papacy in transition - A New Zealand Herald feature on the death of Pope John Paul II ]
Patron Saints Index: Pope Benedict XVI - Biographical profile. Links to some of his writings.
Meta Description: [ Patron Saint Index profile of Pope Benedict XVI ]
Pontificate of Benedict XVI - Site of EWTN, which includes sections on the Pope's life, words, multimedia and the pontificate in general.
Pope Benedict the 16th.com - Photo gallery.
Meta Description: [ A Dedication to Pope Benedict the 16th, including a biography, pictures, and articles about pope benedict the sixteenth. ]
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POPE BENEDICT XVI - News from the Vatican Information Service and other items of interest for Catholics.
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Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger - The vital statistics of the pope.
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Ratzinger a close confidant of John Paul II - Profile of the former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who was elected to succeed John Paul II as pope. Also a photo gallery (requires JavaScript). [CNN]
Meta Description: [ The newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, was one of the most powerful men in the Vatican under Pope John Paul II, a strict enforcer of church doctrine who earned the nickname "Cardinal No." ]
The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club - Unofficial site honoring the theologian, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and now Pope Benedict XVI. Biographical timeline, extensive list of web pages by or about Ratzinger, recent investigations conducted by the CDF.
The Life of Pope Benedict XVI - Includes biography, some quotations from his works, and photo.
The Pope - News, opinion, and photo essays. Small archive of recent news and commentary, selected stories from years past. From the Guardian.
The Pope Blog - News and opinion related to the pope.
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The Pope Blog - News and opinion related to the pope.
The Pope Blog - News and opinion related to the pope.
The Real Power of Love - Benedict XVI's first encyclical has left many worldly commentators speechless. No harm in that as Deus Caritas Est is a document first of all to be pondered. [MercatorNet]
Meta Description: [ Benedict XVI's first encyclical has left many worldly commentators speechless. No harm in that as Deus Caritas Est is a document first of all to be pondered. ]
USA Today - News and commentary.
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View From the Vatican - An insider's view of the work of the new Pope.
Meta Description: [ The VERY private thoughts of our new Pope Benedict XVI -- "Ratzinger the Fruity" to his friends. ]
Wikipedia: Pope Benedict XVI - Biographical article with hyperlinks to related topics.
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