|
Official Vatican Biography of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope
Benedict XVI
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith , President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International
Theological Commission, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16
April 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June
1951.
His
father, a police officer, came from a traditional family of farmers from
Lower Baviera. He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, and was called
into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World War
II. From 1946 to 1951, the year in which he was ordained a priest and
began to teach, he studied philosophy and theology at the University of
Munich and at the higher school in Freising. In 1953 he obtained a
doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled: "The People and House of God
in St. Augustine’s doctrine of the Church". Four years later, he qualified
as a university teacher. He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at
the higher school of philosophy and theology of Freising, then in Bonn
from 1959 to 1969, Münster from 1963 to 1966, Tubinga from 1966 to 1969.
From 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the history of
dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice President of the same
university.
Already in 1962 he was well known when, at the age of 35, he became a
consultor at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal
Joseph Frings. Among his numerous publications, a particular post belongs
to the ‘Introduction to Christianity’, a collection of university lessons
on the
profession of apostolic faith, published in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an
anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral
ministry, published in 1973.
In
March 1977, Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on
28 May 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years
to take over the pastoral ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Paul VI in the consistory of 27 June
1977, of the Titles of the Suburbicarian Church of Velletri-Segni (5 April
1993) and Suburbicarian Church of Ostia (30 November 2002).
On
25 November 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical
Commission and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission.
Relator of the 5th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980).
President Delegate to the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983).
Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, 6 November 1998. On 30
November 2002, the Holy Father approved the election, by the order of
cardinal bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals.
President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New
Catechism to the Holy Father.
Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera Università Maria
Santissima Assunta, 10 November 1999.
Honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 13 November 2000.
Curial Membership:
Secretariat of State (second section)
Oriental Churches, Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments,
Bishops, Evangelization of Peoples, Catholic Education (congregations)
Christian Unity (council)
Latin America, Ecclesia Dei (commissions)
Source: Vatican New Agency |
|
Benedict XVI
2005- The
265th Pope
"The
Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible
principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the
faithful."
Lumen Gentium, 23
|
