Sunday, April 15, 2007

Ad multos annos

Benedictus PP XVI
Birth

April 16, 1927, Holy Saturday, at 4:15 a.m., Marktl, diocese of Passau, Germany. He was baptized with the name Joseph Alois on that same day at 8: 30 a.m., in the parish of Saint Oswald in Marktl, by Fr. Josef Stangl, vicar of Marktl. He received first communion in March 1936 and the sacrament of confirmation on June 9, 1937 in Traunstein from Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber, archbishop of München und Freising.

Education

Superior School of Philosophy, Freising; University of München, München (doctorate in theology; thesis: "People and house of God in the doctrine on the church of St. Augustin"). Received the subdiaconate, Saturday October 28, 1950, Freising, from Johannes Baptist Neuhäusler, titular bishop of Calidone, auxiliary of München und Freising; and the diaconate the following day in the same place and from the same bishop.

Priesthood

Ordained, June 29, 1951, cathedral of Sts. Mary and Corbinian, Freising, by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber, archbishop of München und Freising. Further studies, 1951-1952. Faculty member at the Superior School of Philosophy and Theology, Freising, 1952-1959. Faculty member at the University of Bonn, 1959-1963. Participated in the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965, as an expert. Faculty member at the University of Münster, 1963-1969. Faculty member at the University of Tübingen, 1966-1969. Faculty member at the University of Ratisbon, 1969-1977; its vice-president, 1969-1977.Member of the International Theological Commission, Vatican City, 1969-1977.

Episcopate

Elected archbishop of München und Freising, March 24, 1977. Consecrated, May 28, 1977, cathedral of München, by Josef Stangl, bishop of Würzburg, assisted by Rudolf Graber, bishop of Regensburg, and by Ernst Tewes, C.O., titular bishop of Villamagna in Proconsulari, auxiliary of München und Freising.

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. Prefect of the S.C. for the Doctrine of the Faith, president of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and president of the International Theological Commission, November 25, 1981 to April 2, 2005. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese, February 15, 1982. Named bishop of title of suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni, April 5, 1993. Vice-dean of College of Cardinals, November 9, 1998. Dean of the College of Cardinals and bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia, proper of the dean, retaining the title of the suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni, November 30, 2002. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005 and was elected pope.

Papacy

Elected pope on April 19, 2005; took the name Benedict XVI. The ceremony to mark the beginning of his pontificate took place on April 24, 2005.
Biographical information adapted from The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a wrong name in the part about the Birth of the Holy Father: Josef Stangl was not the vicar of Marktl who baptized him.
In reality, he was bishop of Würzburg (Bavaria) between 1957 und 1979, and May 28th, 1977, he ordinated Joseph Ratzinger for bishop in Munich.
In 1979, after the death of bishop Stangl, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger came to Würzburg and holded the homily at the funeral.
In this year, 2007, the diocese Würzburg celebrates the 100st birthday and 50th jubilee of episcopal consecration of Josef Stangl with a memorial year and a big exposition. There were two books printed, and for one of them, the Pope wrote long personal words.

Lover of Futility said...

Thanks for the information, Markus.