Road To The Papacy
Here are some key dates in the life of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who was elected the new pope and chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.
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Joseph Ratzinger is born in Marktl am Inn, Germany, the son of a policeman.
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Family moves to the town of Tittmoning.
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His family moves to Traunstein after his father has conflicts with local Nazi Party supporters in Tittmoning.
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Enrolls against his will in Hitler Youth. He is dismissed shortly afterward because of his intention to study for the priesthood.
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Drafted as a helper for an anti-aircraft unit, he serves in a battery defending a BMW plant.
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He is dismissed from his unit, but returns home to find a draft notice for forced labor.
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Leaves home to dig anti-tank trenches.
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Released from the labor force, he returns home, only to receive an army draft notice three weeks later.
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Deserts from the army and returns home. Ratzinger is captured by Americans as the war ends.
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Released from a U.S. POW camp, he hitchhikes home on a milk truck.
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Begins studying for the priesthood in Friesing.
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He is ordained a priest in Munich, Germany, along with his brother Georg.
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Receives a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich.
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Begins teaching theology in Bonn, the first of several appointments in German universities.
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Leaves the University of Tuebingen, concerned about student unrest which had interrupted his lectures with sit-ins. Takes teaching job in Regensburg in native Bavaria, near his brother.
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Is named archbishop of Munich and exactly two months later, is ordained a bishop.
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Is ordained a cardinal and is appointed cardinal-priest of S. Marie Consolatrice al Tiburtino.
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Is appointed president of International Theological Commission, Prefect of Doctrine of the Faith, and President of Pontifical Biblical Commission, Roman Curia.
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Resigns as archbishop of Munich.
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Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Velletri-Segni.
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Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Ostia.
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After the death of Pope John Paul II, he resigns as Prefect of Doctrine of the Faith and President of Pontifical Biblical Commission, Roman Curia.
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Is elected pope by his fellow cardinals, and takes the name Benedict XVI.
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Is installed as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Arrives in Germany for his first foreign trip as pope, to visit World Youth Day, where as many as a million people from 184 countries were expected by the time Benedict celebrates a closing Mass Aug. 21.
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In the first major ruling of Benedict's reign, the
Vatican imposes restrictions on homosexuals entering the
Catholic priesthood, saying men must first overcome any
"transitory" gay tendencies.
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Benedict, in his first "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city
and the world) message and blessing, urges humanity to unite against terrorism, poverty and environmental blight and calls for a "new world order" to correct economic imbalances.
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Benedict performs the first baptisms of his pontificate, using the occasion to launch an impassioned denunciation of irresponsible sex and a "culture of death."
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The Pope makes his first "state of the world" address,
a traditional new year speech to diplomats at the Holy See, and warns of a clash of civilisations caused by the "moral perversion" of terrorism. He urges cuts in arms spending.
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Pope Benedict, speaking out on hot topics that will
figure in campaigning for the coming Italian general election, condemns gay marriage and "abortion pills".
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Pope releases first encyclical, called "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love).
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Pope Benedict names 15 new members of the college of cardinals, the body that helps run the Roman Catholic Church and will one day elect a new pontiff.
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Pope Benedict convenes the College of Cardinals for the first time since his election, inviting its members to share their concerns about the challenges facing the Catholic Church before adding 15 new members to their ranks.
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During a visit to his native Germany, Benedict
sparks protests from the Muslim world after a speech he gave which Muslims said portrayed Islam as a religion tainted by violence and irrationality.
Days later, the Pope says he was "deeply sorry" about the
reaction and that medieval quotes he used on holy war did not reflect his personal views.
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It is announced that Pope Benedict is planning to make his first visit to the U.S. as pontiff next year. Officials say he plans to travel to Washington and New York, with visits to the White House, ground zero and the United Nations headquarters during the trip scheduled for April 15-20, 2008.
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Credits:
CBS, AP, catholic-hierarchy.org
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