Who is Pope Benedict XVI?

Answer 1

Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) is the 265th and reigning Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and, as such, Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005. Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in 1927.

Pope Benedict XVI was elected pope at the age of 78. He is the oldest person to have been elected pope since Clement XII in 1730.

The Pope has doctorate degrees in divinity and theology and he was a university professor.

Along with his native German, Benedict speaks fluent Italian, French, English, Spanish and Latin. He can read ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew.

Benedict plays the piano and has a preference for Mozart and Beethoven.

Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to own an iPod.
Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in 1927. Pope Benedict XVI was elected pope at the age of 78. He is the oldest person to have been elected pope since Clement XII in 1730. The Pope has doctorate degrees in divinity and theology and he was a university professor. Along with his native German, Benedict speaks fluent Italian, French, English, Spanish and Latin. He can read ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. Benedict plays the piano and has a preference for Mozart and Beethoven. Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to own an iPod.
Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in 1927 and recently turned 81. Pope Benedict XVI was elected pope at the age of 78. He is the oldest person to have been elected pope since Clement XII in 1730. The Pope has doctorate degrees in divinity and theology and he was a university professor. Along with his native German, Benedict speaks fluent Italian, French, English, Spanish and Latin. He can read ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. Benedict plays the piano and has a preference for Mozart and Beethoven. Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to own an iPod.

Answer 2

Yes. He was previously known as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger before he was elected Pope. His previous posting as a Cardinal was the head of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith (Formerly known as "The Holy Inquisition": See Spanish Inquisition).

Answer 3

his role is to look after all the catholic church.
He is the leader of the whole of the catholic religion and he goes and preaches to the needy
He is the Vicar of Christ on Earth, and the earthly leader of the Catholic Church, just like every other Pope.
He is charged with heading God's church on earth.
He is Christ's Vicar on earth, and the successor of St. Peter. The model that God gave us for the Pope is the Prime Minister in ancient Israel. Jesus used the same model and gave Peter the Keys of the Kingdom, which was the same symbol that was used for the Prime Minister in the Davidic Kingdom.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Pope, Authority of the. Although elected by the college of cardinals, the pope's authority is not derived from them, but is given to God directly. He exercises it de iure divino (by divine right) as successor of St. Peter. He is infallible in teaching, and he has full and supremem power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, and directly and immediately over every Catholic, and all this in virtue of his office and permanently.
from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

880 When Christ instituted the Twelve, "he constituted [them] in the form of a college or permanent assembly, a the head of which he placed Peter, chosen from among them." (Lumen gentium 19; cf Lk 6:13; Jn 21:15-17) Just as "by the Lord's institution, St. Peter and the rest of the apostles constitute a single apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are related with and united to one another." (Lumen gentium 22; cf. Codex Iuris Canonici, can 330.)

881 The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. (Cf. Mt 16:18-10; Jn 21:15-17.) "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head." (Lumen gentium 22 section 2) This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.

882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful." (Lumen gentium 23) For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered. (Lumen gentium 22; cf. Christus Dominus 2, 9.)

Update:
Since Benedict retired on February 28, 2013, he no longer plays a role in the governing of the Church and has become a virtual hermit. When he retired he made it clear that he wished to no longer play any role in the governance of the Church. His role is simply that of Pope Emeritus - of retired pope.

Answer 4

Pope Benedict XVI now known as Pope emeritus (Pope retired) lives in Vatican City, he will reside in a new residence, once it has been refurbished - a former convent known as Mater Ecclesiae - in the south-west corner of Vatican City.

Answer 5

Benedict XV, born as Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from September 3, 1914 to January 22, 1922, succeeding Pope Pius X (1903-1914). His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I and its political, social and humanitarian consequences in Europe.

Answer 6

Benedict was pope from April 19, 2005, until February 28, 2013.

Answer 7

No, he is Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He has no official duties in the Church. On March 13, 2013, Pope Frances was elected as the new pope.

Answer 8

He is currently Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.