Rate Famous People
Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in 1927 in Germany, became the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2005. Prior to his papacy, he served as a cardinal and head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Known for his conservative views on theology, he focused on promoting traditional Catholic teachings during his tenure. Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in 2013, becoming the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years. He is recognized for his writings on faith and reason, as well as his efforts to promote dialogue between various religions.