Reply #179: RATZINGER, Joseph (1927- [View All]

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RATZINGER, Joseph (1927-

Birth. April 16, 1927, Marktl, diocese of Passau, Germany. Besides his native German, he speaks English and Italian.

Education. Superior School of Philosophy, Freising; University of Münich, Münich (doctorate in theology).

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1951, by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber, archbishop of Münich und Freising. Further studies, 1951-1952. Faculty member, Superior School of Philosophy and Theology, Freising, 1952-1959; University of Bonn, 1959-1963; University of Münster, 1963-1969; University of Tübingen, 1966-1969; University of Ratisbon, 1969-1977; vice-president, University of Ratisbon, 1969-1977, expert, II Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Member, International Theological Commission, Vatican City, 1969-1977.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Münich und Freising, March 24, 1977. Consecrated, May 28, 1977, Münich, by Josef Stange, bishop of Würzburg.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 27, 1977; received the red biretta and the title of S. Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino, June 27, 1977. Attended IV Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30-October 29, 1977. Participated in the conclave of August 25-26, 1978. Special papal envoy to 3rd National Marian Congress, Guayaquil, Ecuador, September 16-24, 1978. Participated in the conclave of October 14-16, 1978. Attended I Plenary Meeting of Sacred College of Cardinal, Vatican City, November 5-9, 1979; V Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 26-October 25, 1980; relator general; member of general secretariat, 1980-1983. Prefect of S.C. for Doctrine of Faith, president of Pontifical Biblical Commission, and president of International Theological Commission, November 25, 1981. Resigned pastoral government of archdiocese, February 15, 1982. Attended VI Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 29-October 28, 1983; president delegate; member of general secretariat, 1983-1986. Attended II Extraordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24-December 8, 1985; member of general secretariat until 1987. Attended VII Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1-30, 1987; member of general secretariat, 1987-1990. Attended VIII Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30-October 28, 1990; member of general secretariat, 1990-1994. Attended Special Assembly of World Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28-December 14, 1991. Bishop of title of suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni, April 5, 1993. Attended Special Assembly of World Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April 10-May 8, 1994; IX Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2-29, 1994. Attended Special Assembly for America of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16-December 12, 1997; Special Assembly for Asia of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 29-May 14, 1998. Vice-dean of College of Cardinals, November 9, 1998. Attended Special Assembly for Oceania of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 22-December 12, 1998. Special papal envoy to 12th centenary celebrations of creation of diocese of Paderborn, Germany, January 3, 1999. Attended II Special Assembly for Europe of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1-23, 1999; X Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30-October 27, 2001. Special papal envoy to the jubilar celebrations in the diocese of Regensburg, Germany, October 6, 2002. Dean of the College of Cardinals and bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia, added to Vellteri-Segni, November 30, 2002. Papal legate to the celebrations of the 750th anniversary of the canonization of St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, Kraków, Poland, May 11, 2003.

Bibliography. Allen, John L. Cardinal Ratzinger : the Vatican's enforcer of the faith. New York : Continuum, 2000; Ratzinger, Joseph. Milestones. Memoirs: 1927-1977. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1998.