Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger)

Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. A respected theologian, he emphasized traditional Catholic doctrine, the importance of faith and reason, and church renewal. Before becoming pope, he was a influential academic and served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. His papacy focused on strengthening church teachings, engaging with contemporary issues, and promoting dialogue among religions. He resigned in 2013 citing health reasons, becoming the first pope to do so in over 600 years, and was succeeded by Pope Francis.