A look back at the major dates of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI

Europe 1 with AFP 11:30 a.m., December 31, 2022, modified at 11:32 a.m., December 31, 2022

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the monastery in the Vatican gardens where he had retired.

The health of the German theologian had deteriorated in recent days, but the Vatican had indicated on Friday that his condition was "stationary" and that he had participated in the celebration of mass in his room on Thursday.

Europe 1 returns to the major dates of Joseph Ratzinger, pope under the name of Benedict XVI (2005-2013). 

The life of Benedict XVI in a few key dates

- April 16, 1927: born in Marktl am Inn, a small town in southern Bavaria (southern Germany).

- 1941: forcibly enrolled in the Hitler Youth.

- 1951: ordained a priest, before beginning a long career as a professor of theology and author of numerous publications.

- From March to June 1977: appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising, ordained bishop, and created cardinal.

- 1981: appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in charge of overseeing the dogma of the Catholic Church.

- April 19, 2005: elected pope, he succeeds John Paul II.

He takes the name of Benedict XVI.

- January 2006: publishes his first encyclical, "God is love", followed by "Saved by hope", in November 2007 and "Charity in truth", in July 2009.

- September 2006: triggers a controversy after a speech seeming to link Islam and violence at the University of Regensburg (Germany).

He then presents his regrets to the Muslim world.

- February 11, 2013: announces his resignation, which takes effect on February 28.

Becomes pope emeritus.

- January 20, 2022: Accused of inaction when he was archbishop of Munich, from 1977 to 1982, in an independent report published in Germany.

He asks "forgiveness" for the sexual violence on minors committed by clerics, while ensuring that he has never covered pedophile priests.