-
Joseph Ratzinger is born
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger is born in Marktl Inn, Bavaria, Germany. He is baptized on the same day. -
Ratzinger enters the minor seminary.
Joseph Ratzinger enters the minor seminary in Traunstein, Germany. -
Hitler Youth
After his 14th birthday, Joseph Ratzinger enrolled in Hitler Youth against his wish. It is said he did not participate to the meetings or get involved with much of their activities. -
drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps
At age 16, Joseph Ratzinger and members of his seminary were drafted into the anti-aircraft corps as airforce child soldiers. -
Ratzinger deserts
Ratzinger deserted in 1945 as his unit was terminated. He went back to his family home in Traunstein. -
enters Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein.
After deserting, Ratzinger and his brother both enter the Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein. -
Ordained by Cardinal Faulhaber of Munich.
In 1951 Ratzinger is ordained into the priesthood by Cardinal Faulhaber of Munich. -
Receives a PhD in theology
In 1953, Ratzinger receives his doctorate after completing his thesis "The People and House of God in St. Augustine's Doctrine of the Church." -
Period: to
Ratzinger is a lecturer at the University of Bonn
Ratzinger lectures about theology -
Period: to
Ratzinger participated in the Second Vatican Council
Ratzinger participated in the Secon Vatican Council. During this period, he also served as a theological consultant to Cardinal Frings of Cologne. -
Becomes chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen,
-
-
co-founds the Catholic theology journal Communio
Communio is a federation of theological journals, founded in 1972 by Joseph Ratzinger, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac, Walter Kasper, Marc Ouellet, Louis Bouyer and others. -
apointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising.
-
-
Named Cardinal-Priest by Pope Paul VI
In June 1977, Ratzinger was Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino by Pope Paul VI. -
John-Paul II is made pope
-
Period: to
Pope John-Paul II's time as pope.
-
Made Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope John-Paul II.
-
Pope John-Paul II refused Ratzinger the permission to leave the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith to become an archivist in the Vatican secret Archives.
-
Named Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals.
-
Ratzinger convinced Pope John-Paul II to to put the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in charge of all investigations and policies surrounding sexual abuse in order to combat such abuse more efficiently.
-
Elected Dean of the College of Cardinals.
-
Time magazine publishes quotes from anonymous Vatican sources that claim Ratzinger is front runner up fto succeed the ill pope.
-
Pope John-Paul II dies.
-
Ratzinger is elected Pope.
Ratzinger chooses the name Pope Benedict XVI. He is the 265th pope. -
Period: to
Pope Benedict XVI's time as pope
-
-
Newly elected Pope Benedict XVI lists several ways to combat the spread of HIV.
The list includes chastity and fidelity in marriage. However the list doesn't include the use of condoms. -
The Pope offends the Muslim community when he quotes a Byzantine Emperor on Islam during a lecture he delivered in Germany
Show me just what Muhammad 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. -
-
Pope Benedict XVI lifts the excommunication of the revisionist Auxiliary Bishop Richard Williamson.
-
-
The Pope names 22 new cardinals.
-
Gay online publication The Advocate names Benedict XVI one of the 45 biggest homophobes of the magazine's 45 years of existence
-
The Pope names seven new saints.
-
-
Benedict XVI publicly sends his first tweet on his newly created Twitter account
@Pontifex
"Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart." -
Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation on February 28th
