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.

April 16, 1927 Joseph Ratzinger is born in Marktl am Inn, Germany, the son of a policeman.

1929 Family moves to the town of Tittmoning.

1932 His family moves to Traunstein after his father has conflicts with local Nazi Party supporters in Tittmoning.

1941 Enrolls against his will in Hitler Youth. He is dismissed shortly afterward because of his intention to study for the priesthood.

1943 Drafted as a helper for an anti-aircraft unit, he serves in a battery defending a BMW plant.

Sept. 10, 1944 He is dismissed from his unit, but returns home to find a draft notice for forced labor.

Sept. 20, 1944 Leaves home to dig anti-tank trenches.

Nov. 20, 1944 Released from the labor force, he returns home, only to receive an army draft notice three weeks later.

April-May 1945 Deserts from the army and returns home. Ratzinger is captured by Americans as the war ends.

June 19, 1945 Released from a U.S. POW camp, he hitchhikes home on a milk truck.

November 1945 Begins studying for the priesthood in Friesing.

June 29, 1951 He is ordained a priest in Munich, Germany, along with his brother Georg.

1953 Receives a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich.

1959 Begins teaching theology in Bonn, the first of several appointments in German universities.

1969 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.

March 24, 1977 Is named archbishop of Munich and exactly two months later, is ordained a bishop.

June 27, 1977 Is ordained a cardinal and is appointed cardinal-priest of S. Marie Consolatrice al Tiburtino.

Nov. 25, 1981 Is appointed president of International Theological Commission, Prefect of Doctrine of the Faith, and President of Pontifical Biblical Commission, Roman Curia.

Feb. 15, 1982 Resigns as archbishop of Munich.

April 5, 1993 Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Velletri-Segni.

Nov. 30, 2002 Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Ostia.

April 5, 2005 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.

April 19, 2005 Is elected pope by his fellow cardinals, and takes the name Benedict XVI.

April 24, 2005 Is installed as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Aug. 18, 2005 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.

Nov. 29, 2005 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.

Dec. 25, 2005 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.

Jan. 8, 2006 Benedict performs the first baptisms of his pontificate, using the occasion to launch an impassioned denunciation of irresponsible sex and a "culture of death."

Jan. 9, 2006 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.

Jan. 12, 2006 Pope Benedict, speaking out on hot topics that will figure in campaigning for the coming Italian general election, condemns gay marriage and "abortion pills".

Jan. 25, 2006 Pope releases first encyclical, called "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love).

Feb. 22, 2006 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.

March 23, 2006 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.

Sept. 12, 2006 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.

Nov. 12, 2007 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.

Credits: CBS, AP, catholic-hierarchy.org