Birthday: 16 April 1927, Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany
Birth Name: Joseph Alois Ratzinger
Height: 170 cm
Pope Benedict XVI was born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany as Joseph Alois Ratzinger.
"I believe that this civilisation, with all its dangers and hopes, can only be tamed and led back to...Show more »
"I believe that this civilisation, with all its dangers and hopes, can only be tamed and led back to greatness if it recognizes again the sources of its power." (From the interview, given to Eberhard von Gemmingen, a confidant and head of Vatican Radio's German service, the very first interview as pontiff and the very first full- length interview given by any Pope ever) Show less «
In every corner of the earth there are very many people who do not want to listen to what the Church...Show more »
In every corner of the earth there are very many people who do not want to listen to what the Church says. We hope that at least they hear her; then they can also disagree, but it is important that at least they hear her in order to respond. Let us also try to convince those who disagree with her and do not want to listen. Moreover, we cannot forget that Our Lord did not manage to make everyone listen to him, either. We do not expect to convince everyone all at once. (Press conference during the flight to Brazil, May 9, 2007) Show less «
War, with its aftermath of bereavement and destruction, has always been deemed a disaster in opposit...Show more »
War, with its aftermath of bereavement and destruction, has always been deemed a disaster in opposition to the plan of God, who created all things for existence and particularly wants to make the human race one family. (Reflections before the recital of Angelus Domini, Lorenzago di Cadore, Belluno, Italy, July 22, 2007) Show less «
It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when ...Show more »
It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. Show less «
"The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they be specialists in promoting the encounte...Show more »
"The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they be specialists in promoting the encounter between man and God. The priest is not asked to be an expert in economics, construction or politics. He is expected to be an expert in the spiritual life." (Meeting with the Clergy in the Cathedral of St. John in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2006) Show less «
Under Church law, someone who knowingly does or backs something which the Church considers a grave s...Show more »
Under Church law, someone who knowingly does or backs something which the Church considers a grave sin, such as abortion, inflicts what is known as "automatic excommunication" on themselves. (Press conference during the flight to Brazil, May 9, 2007) Show less «
In the magnificent mathematics of creation which today we can read in the human genetic code, we do ...Show more »
In the magnificent mathematics of creation which today we can read in the human genetic code, we do recognize the language of God. The functional truth about man has been discovered. Show less «
"Our situation generally, I think the situation of the Western World, is an increasing of relativism...Show more »
"Our situation generally, I think the situation of the Western World, is an increasing of relativism, the idea all is equal and we do not know anything clear about God; and so, all faiths are equal and so on. This is a general impression in the world of today and this also is temptation for us as Christians. But, I think on the other hand, in many people there is a real desire to have concrete contact with Christ, with the presence of Our Lord. So, I would say the youth of the Church is improving the situation because they will not simply do what all people are doing; so really be in contact with the Lord and sharing the faith of the Church. So, I would say, generally the situation of the Western World is not improving about the faith, but in the Church, the youth of the Church, we can see that there is a new beginning." (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger interview, aired on 5 September 2003) Show less «
"I'm not a man who constantly thinks up jokes. But I think it's very important to be able to see the...Show more »
"I'm not a man who constantly thinks up jokes. But I think it's very important to be able to see the funny side of life and its joyful dimension and not to take everything too tragically. I'd also say it's necessary for my ministry. A writer once said that angels can fly because they don't take themselves too seriously. Maybe we could also fly a bit if we didn't think we were so important." (On what role humour plays in the life of a Pope, interview with Bayerische Rundfunk, ZDF, Deutsche Welle and Vatican Radio, Castelgandolfo,August 5,2006) Show less «
Those who believe are never alone - neither in life nor in death.
Those who believe are never alone - neither in life nor in death.
I ask myself the same question. We don't have the answers, but we know that Jesus suffered as innoce...Show more »
I ask myself the same question. We don't have the answers, but we know that Jesus suffered as innocent children suffer. [Upon being asked a question from a seven-year-old Japanese girl who was caught up in the 2010 tsunami about why so many children had to suffer in natural calamities.] Show less «
I am near the Pope and now he helps me to be near the Lord and I try to enter this atmosphere of pra...Show more »
I am near the Pope and now he helps me to be near the Lord and I try to enter this atmosphere of prayer, of love for our Lord, for Our Lady and I entrust myself to his prayers. So there is a permanent dialogue and we're close to each other in a new way, in a very deep way. (on if he continues to feel the presence of John Paul II, interview to the Polish television, aired on October 16, 2005) Show less «
There are lots of useful places in the church for women. Not everyone needs to be a priest. Being a ...Show more »
There are lots of useful places in the church for women. Not everyone needs to be a priest. Being a priest is not the only great thing to do for the the church. We can find so many nice and valuable services for women. Show less «
"We are today, not another Church as of 500 years ago. It's always the same Church. It was at one ti...Show more »
"We are today, not another Church as of 500 years ago. It's always the same Church. It was at one time holy, for the Church is always holy, for the Church it is not in another time an impossible thing." (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger interview, aired on 5 September 2003) Show less «
"Circumstances and situations and even people influence you because you take on different responsibi...Show more »
"Circumstances and situations and even people influence you because you take on different responsibilities. Let's say that my basic personality and even my basic vision have grown, but in everything that is essential I have remained identical. I'm happy that certain aspects that weren't noticed at first are now coming into the open" (On if he has changed after being elected, interview with Bayerische Rundfunk, ZDF, Deutsche Welle and Vatican Radio, Castelgandolfo,August 5,2006) Show less «
"Remember me in your prayers and sacrifices, even as you remembered my great Predecessor, so that I ...Show more »
"Remember me in your prayers and sacrifices, even as you remembered my great Predecessor, so that I can carry out the mission Christ has given me." (Words originally spoken in Polish, Holy Mass in Blonie-Park, Kraków, Poland, May 28, 2006) Show less «
I see that the Church is a large family. Wherever the Pope goes the family meets with great joy. For...Show more »
I see that the Church is a large family. Wherever the Pope goes the family meets with great joy. For me this is a sign of lively faith, of communion and of the peace that faith creates. (Welcome speech during the visit to the shrine of the Holy Face in Manopello, Pescara, Italy, September 1, 2006) Show less «
"I apologize for being late. Germans are known for their punctuality, and this is a sign that I have...Show more »
"I apologize for being late. Germans are known for their punctuality, and this is a sign that I have become quite Italianized." (Meeting with the German pilgrims, Vatican City, April 25, 2005) Show less «
"The Resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity. It is a fundamental truth to be reasserted v...Show more »
"The Resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity. It is a fundamental truth to be reasserted vigorously in every epoch, since to deny it, as has been, and continues to be attempted, or to transform it into a purely spiritual event, is to thwart our very faith." (Reflections before the recital of Regina Caeli, Saint Peter's Square, April 30, 2006) Show less «
"My idea is that really the springtime of the Church will not say that we will have in a near time b...Show more »
"My idea is that really the springtime of the Church will not say that we will have in a near time buses of conversions, that all peoples of the world will be converted to Catholicism. This is not the way of God. The essential things in history begin always with the small, more convinced communities." (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger interview, aired on 5 September 2003) Show less «
People in Africa and Asia admire, indeed, the scientific and technical prowess of the West, but they...Show more »
People in Africa and Asia admire, indeed, the scientific and technical prowess of the West, but they are frightened by a form of rationality which totally excludes God from man's vision, as if this were the highest form of reason, and one to be taught to their cultures too. They do not see the real threat to their identity in the Christian faith, but in the contempt for God and the cynicism that considers mockery of the sacred to be an exercise of freedom and that holds up utility as the supreme criterion for the future of scientific research. Dear friends, this cynicism is not the kind of tolerance and cultural openness that the world's peoples are looking for and that all of us want! The tolerance which we urgently need includes the fear of God - respect for what others hold sacred. This respect for what others hold sacred demands that we ourselves learn once more the fear of God. But this sense of respect can be reborn in the Western world only if faith in God is reborn, if God become once more present to us and in us. Show less «
"To tell the truth I'm not that lonely. Of course there are, you may say, the walls that make it mor...Show more »
"To tell the truth I'm not that lonely. Of course there are, you may say, the walls that make it more difficult to get in, but there's also a "pontifical family, lots of visitors every day, especially when I'm in Rome. The Bishops come and other people, there are State visits. There are also personalities who want to talk to me personally, and not just about political issues. In this sense there are all kinds of encounters that, thank God, I have continually." (On living in Vatican City, interview with Bayerische Rundfunk, ZDF, Deutsche Welle and Vatican Radio, Castelgandolfo,August 5,2006) Show less «
"There were not sufficient reasons to unleash a war against Iraq. To say nothing of the fact that, g...Show more »
"There were not sufficient reasons to unleash a war against Iraq. To say nothing of the fact that, given the new weapons that make possible destructions that go beyond the combatant groups, today we should be asking ourselves if it is still licit to admit the very existence of a 'just war'." (2 May 2003) Show less «
Purity of heart is what enables us to see.
Purity of heart is what enables us to see.
It is not true that young people think only of consumerism and pleasure. It is not true that they ar...Show more »
It is not true that young people think only of consumerism and pleasure. It is not true that they are materialistic and self-centered. Just the opposite is true: young people want great things. They want an end to injustice. They want inequalities to be overcome and all peoples to have their share in the earth's goods. They want freedom for the oppressed. They want great things, good things(Meeting with the German pilgrims, Vatican City, April 25, 2005) Show less «
"When, little by little, the trend of the voting led me to understand that, to say it simply, the ax...Show more »
"When, little by little, the trend of the voting led me to understand that, to say it simply, the axe was going to fall on me, my head began to spin. I was convinced that I had already carried out my life's work and could look forward to ending my days peacefully. With profound conviction I said to the Lord: Do not do this to me! You have younger and better people at your disposal, who can face this great responsibility with greater dynamism and greater strength." (On the conclave) Show less «
Christ did not promise an easy life. Those who desire comforts have dialed the wrong number.(Meeting...Show more »
Christ did not promise an easy life. Those who desire comforts have dialed the wrong number.(Meeting with the German pilgrims, Vatican City, April 25, 2005) Show less «
The problem in 3rd world countries like Africa is that technological progress is moving much faster ...Show more »
The problem in 3rd world countries like Africa is that technological progress is moving much faster than education in the "heart" matters. Without proper spiritual education we just get AIDS and war. We need a second dimensional in education beyond pure technology. Show less «
"If the faith is not everyday realized, if the faith is weakened and begins only to be an hypothesis...Show more »
"If the faith is not everyday realized, if the faith is weakened and begins only to be an hypothesis, so it's not a fundamental of your life and so begins all these problems." (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger interview, aired on 5 September 2003) Show less «
"I came to Germany, to Bavaria, to bring once more to my fellow-citizens the eternal truths of the G...Show more »
"I came to Germany, to Bavaria, to bring once more to my fellow-citizens the eternal truths of the Gospel as a truth and power for today, and to confirm believers in their fidelity to Christ, the Son of God, who became man for our salvation. I am convinced, in faith, that in Christ, in his word, we find the way not only to eternal happiness, but also to the building of a humane future even now, on this our land." (Farewell address at the end of the journey to Germany, International Airport Franz Joseph Strauss, Munich, September 14, 2006) Show less «
"Progress becomes true progress only if it serves the human person and if the human person grows: no...Show more »
"Progress becomes true progress only if it serves the human person and if the human person grows: not only in terms of his or her technical power, but also in his or her moral awareness." (Interview with Bayerische Rundfunk, ZDF, Deutsche Welle and Vatican Radio, Castelgandolfo,August 5,2006) Show less «
Only from the saints, only from God does true revolution come, the definitive way to change the worl...Show more »
Only from the saints, only from God does true revolution come, the definitive way to change the world. Show less «
The Church as such is not involved in politics - we respect secularism but offers the conditions in ...Show more »
The Church as such is not involved in politics - we respect secularism but offers the conditions in which a healthy political system candevelop, together with the consequent solution for social problems. (Press conference during the flight to Brazil, May 9, 2007) Show less «
Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us ...Show more »
Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary. Show less «
"Life, which is a work of God, should not be denied to anyone, even the tiniest and most defenceless...Show more »
"Life, which is a work of God, should not be denied to anyone, even the tiniest and most defenceless unborn child, and far less to a child with serious disabilities." (Reflections before the recital of Angelus Domini, St Peter's Square, Vatican, Sunday, 4 February 2007) Show less «
The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is liv...Show more »
The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift. (Press conference during the flight to Brazil, May 9, 2007) Show less «
