Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, known as Pope Benedict XVI, served as the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. Born in Germany in 1927, he was a prominent theologian and head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before his papacy. Known for his conservative views on doctrinal issues, he emphasized faith and reason. In 2013, he became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, citing health reasons. After his resignation, he took the title "Pope Emeritus" and continued to influence the Church through his writings and teachings until his death in 2022.