Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger, was Pope John Paul II's right hand man for many, many years. It is to be hoped that the primary moving force in Cardinal Ratzinger's selection as pope was the Holy Spirit, but that fact that Pope John Paul had been Pope for many years, and that no one knew his mind better than Cardinal Ratzinger may have made the choice perfectly obvious to the Cardinals, they certainly didn't take much time to make up their minds.
There has never been a Pope John Benedict.
Vatican City
there hasn't been a pope Benedict XVII the pope now is Benedict XVI He was elected by the College of Cardinals, a body of his peers, as our current Pope is the former Cardinal Josef Ratzinger.
Benedict XVI was the 265th pope of the Catholic Church.
Pope Benedict XVI was the 265th pope.
Pope Benedict XVI was the 265th pope.
John Paul II
Pope Benedict followed Pope John Paul II as pope.
Benedict I was elected on June 2, 557, and died on July 30, 579.
Pope Benedict XVI was the 265th pope.
Pope Benedict XVI was the 265th pope.
Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th pope.