Pope Benedict XVI turns 82

This week Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 82nd birthday and the fourth anniversary of his pontificate.

Joseph Ratzinger was born in Germany on a Holy Saturday in 1927. As a child he would witness firsthand how the oppressions of the Nazi regime plagued his country and the Catholic Church.

Shortly after the end of World War II, Ratzinger finished his studies in philosophy and theology in Freising, where he would later teach, and also at the University of Munich.

He spent most of the 1960s teaching in German universities in Bonn, Munster, Tubingen and Regensburg.




In 1977, professor Ratzinger became Archbishop Ratzinger when Pope Paul VI named him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and then Cardinal three months later. He participated in the papal conclaves that elected John Paul I and John Paul. Pope John Paul II named Ratzinger Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in 1981 and his chief collaborator.




It was on April 19, 2005, however, that Joseph Ratzinger received a much different title: Vicar of Christ. Ratzinger had become Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Pope John Paul II.


Cardinal Medina Estévez
Habemus Papam

Pope Benedict XVI

Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.



Next month, Benedict will celebrate an important moment in his Pontificate when he visits the Holy Land for the first time as Pope.




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[stpaulfan]

My God give him many more years, this Pope is a man of wisdom, honour and integrity. You are always in my prayers PBXVI. God bless you.

[wildfire110]

Nice video... happy birthday pope benedict XVI!

[Ohyewildthong]

We love you, Holy Father

[urlady21]

(belated) happy birthday! this greeting is sooooo late. i greeted him 2011 for his 82nd birthday which was way back 2009. how sad of me.

[urlady21]

@abukamoon nope. don't know how to.

[abukamoon]

DId you send the Pope a card?

[TheFifiboy]

@christinepeace You must be crazy!!! You must be ill !!! You need many Psychiaters !!

Laudetor Jesus Christus

[YoRichh]

God Bless You always on my prayers and please pray for my uncle he died on frIday and please help me get a job I need to take care my Dad and Mom and need or I will lose my house and we will be all in the street please pray for us

[steveinchelsea]

The RC church is an anachronism long past it's expiration date, but I guess it does have some entertainment value as long as we don't take it seriously.

[crazyknight2008]

im not religious in anyway but that dosnt mean i cant be civil about things, happy birthday to the pope hes 84 in 2011, i was very touched to hear him speak of john paul the 2nd as the great pope, i like that type of recognition for someone who was pope for along time. If you beleive in god or some type of religion i say good for you, i only get frustrated when people try to force it down my throat. :)