Born  Joseph Alosius Ratzinger in Marktl, Germany

• Youngest of three children
• Ordained priest June 29, 1951
• In 1961, became professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of Regensburg
• Was an expert voice during the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council [1962-1965]
• Became Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977, the first diocesan priest in 80 years to take governance of this large Bavarian Diocese. His episcopal motte: “Fellow Worker in the Truth”
• November 1981 Pope John Paul II appointed him as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and President of the Biblical Commission and International Theological Commission
• November 2002 was elected Dean of the College of Cardinals
• Elected as the 265^th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, and chose the name Benedict XVI

• Benedict XVI had a pilot’s license, and liked to fly the papal helicopter from Vatican City to the summer residence in Castel Gandolfo – never had a driver’s license
• Fluent in German, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Latin, and Portuguese
• Enjoyed playing Mozart and Bach on piano
• Favorite meal – Bavarian potato ravioli with pancake strips 

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FORMED: YDisciple - Called