Timeline of Pope Benedict XIV Life and Achievement

Here is a timeline of Pope Benedict XVI’s life and achievements:

1927: Born on April 16 in Marktl am Inn, Germany as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger

1951: Ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising

1953: Earns a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich

1953-1977: Serves as a professor of theology at the University of Bonn and later at the University of Regensburg

1977: Appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising

1981: Named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II

1982-2005: Serves as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

2005: Elected pope on April 19, succeeding Pope John Paul II

2006: Makes his first foreign trip as pope, visiting Bavaria, Germany

2006: Makes a historic visit to a synagogue in Rome, becoming the first pope to do so since the early days of Christianity

2006: Makes a controversial speech at the University of Regensburg, in which he quotes a medieval emperor who made negative comments about Islam, leading to widespread protests in the Muslim world

2009: Makes his first visit to the United States as pope, meeting with President Barack Obama and addressing the United Nations

2010: Makes a historic visit to the United Kingdom, becoming the first pope to do so since the English Reformation

2013: Announces his intention to resign as pope due to his advanced age and declining health

2013: Steps down as pope on February 28, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope Gregory XII in 1415

2013-2021: Retires to a monastery within the Vatican City and remains active as a writer and theologian

2022: Dies on Dec 31 at the age of 95

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