Pope Benedict XVI (April 16, 1927 – December 31, 2022), whose real name was Joseph Alois Ratzinger (Latin: Iosephus Ratzinger), was born in Bavaria and was the eighth German Pope. He was originally the Minister of the Catholic Church, Chairman of the Pontifical Bible Committee, Chairman of the International Theological Commission, and Head of the College of Cardinals, proficient in ten languages. Pope Benedict XVI was elected as the Pope in the election on April 19, 2005, and was officially elected as the Pope on April 24. Previously a German cardinal, he was also one of the eligible cardinals who was not canonized by John Paul II. On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as Pope on February 28 due to health reasons, making him the first Pope to voluntarily abdicate in over 600 years.
On December 31, 2022 at 09:34 Rome time (December 31, 2022 at 16:34 Beijing time), Pope Benedict XVI passed away at the age of 95 at the Mother's Monastery of the Vatican Church.

Most of Benedict XVI's youth was spent in Traunstein County, Bavaria, Germany. At the end of World War II, he was called up to assist the air defense forces.
From 1946 to 1951, he studied theology and philosophy at two universities in Munich and Freising, Germany. He was ordained on June 29, 1951 and began teaching theology. In 1953, he obtained a doctoral degree in theology with a thesis on the Church of St. Augustine and the Family of God. Four years later, he was awarded the qualification of a formal university professor with a paper titled "The Historical Theology of Saint Vincent".
From then on, he began teaching faith theology and basic theology at different universities, including Fraser, Bonn (1959-1969), Munster (1963-1966), and Tubingen (1966-1969). Since 1969, he has been teaching theology and history of faith at Regensburg University, and has served as the vice president of the university. In 1962, he gained fame by attending the Vatican Council as a theological advisor to Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.
On March 24, 1977, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Munich and Freising by Pope Paul VI of the Catholic Church, and was ordained as a pastor on May 28 of the same year, becoming the first local parish priest in the past 80 years to become the bishop of this vast diocese of Bavaria.
On June 27, 1977, Paul VI declared him Cardinal at the Council of Cardinals. John Paul II also awarded him the titles of Villette and the Diocese of Seni in the suburbs of Rome (Velletri Segni: April 5, 1993) and the Diocese of Ostia (Ostia: November 30, 2002).
In 1980, he served as the topic leader (relator) at the 5th World Bishops Conference.
On November 25, 1981, he was appointed as the Minister of Information by Pope John Paul II, serving as the Chairman of the Pontifical Bible Committee and the International Theological Committee.
In 1983, he was appointed as the appointed chairman of the 6th World Conference of Bishops.
On November 6, 1998, he was elected as the Deputy Commander of the College of Cardinals.
On November 30, 2002, the Pope approved him as the head of the College of Cardinals.
During the six-year period from 1986 to 1992, he served as the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for Catholic Doctrine, leading the committee to write the new version of Catholic doctrine and presenting the results of his efforts to the Pope.

On November 10, 1999, he was awarded the honorary doctorate of law by the University of the Assumption of Our Lady of Rome. On November 13, 2000, he became a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He is also a member of various departments and committees of the Holy See, including:
The Vatican State Council (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Eastern Church Department
Department of Rites and Sacraments
Bishop's Department
Ministry of Communications
Catholic Ministry of Education
Christian Unity Committee
The Latin American Committee of the Catholic Church, etc.
In Forbes' 2012 Global Most Influential People Ranking, Pope Benedict XVI ranked fifth.
On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would resign from his position as Pope on February 28 due to health reasons, making him the first Pope to voluntarily resign from his position nearly 600 years after Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415.
On December 31, 2022 at 09:34 Rome time (December 31, 2022 at 16:34 Beijing time), Pope Benedict XVI passed away at the age of 95 at the Mother's Monastery of the Vatican Church.