Benedict XVI - the 265th Pope Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joseph Alois Ratzinger

Joseph Alois Ratzinger was born in the small town of Marktl am Inn on 16th April 1927 during the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. He was the youngest of three children. His parents, Josef and Maria, were devout Roman Catholics, and both Joseph and his elder brother Georg were influenced by them in their later decisions to become priests.

Answer: police officer

His father, Josef Ratzinger, was a police officer who held strong anti-Nazi views which created problems for his family, forcing them to move regularly. He was also a devout Roman Catholic, and objected to local officials wanting to adopt various pagan customs which were thought to be in accordance with Nazi tradition. Josef Ratzinger retired in 1937 at the age of sixty, and both he and his wife Maria survived the war.

Answer: True

At the age of fourteen, young Joseph Ratzinger joined the 'Hitler Jugend', or 'Hitler Youth', as was compulsory in Nazi Germany in 1941. Two years later he was drafted into the army, where he served in an anti-aircraft regiment. He later served in Hungary, constructing anti-tank defences.

In 1944 he deserted and returned to his parents' home, where he was captured by U.S. Forces and sent to a prisoner of war camp. He was released in June 1945.

Answer: Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Rome

The title 'Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Rome' is one held by the pope, so Cardinal Ratzinger did not assume this title until after he was elected and assumed his papal name. The title is normally shortened to 'Bishop of Rome'. Other titles formerly held by Joseph Ratzinger include 'Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni', 'President of Pontifical Biblical Commission', 'Cardinal-Priest of St. Marie Consolatrice al Tiburtino', and 'Dean of the College of Cardinals'.

He was also a visiting professor at the Universities of Bonn, Munster, Tubingen, and Regensberg.

Answer: Profiles in Courage

'Milestones' was first published in Germany as 'Aus Meinem Leben'. In it he recalls various fascinating experiences and insights into his personal life, including how he was pressed to join the Waffen SS, but refused, saying that his ambition was to become a Roman Catholic priest! In 'Truth and Tolerance' he maintains his belief that tolerance is often used as an excuse to distort the truth. 'Daughter Zion' deals with the doctrine of Mary as both mother and virgin. President John F. Kennedy was the author of 'Profiles in Courage', for which he won the 1955 Pulitzer prize for History.

Answer: The red German

He was also known as 'The Grand Inquisitor'. All of these nicknames related to his strict, conservative stance on issues such as homosexuality, abortion, women priests, etc, or to the senior roles he held in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. His role as 'Prefect Emeritus of Doctrine of the Faith' used to be called 'The Holy Office of the Inquisition' until it was renamed in 1908 by Pope Pius X. Throughout its history the main role of the Inquisition was the suppression of heresy, and the Spanish Inquisition was particularly brutal in achieving this end.

Answer: False

He was the oldest person to be elected pope since Clement XII was elected in 1730. Clement XII was just three months older than Benedict XVI was at the time of his election. Benedict XVI had been a close confidant of his predecessor, John Paul II, and held several high offices in the Roman Catholic church.

Answer: playing the piano

He is an accomplished pianist, and prefers the works of Beethoven and Mozart. He can speak ten languages including Spanish, Portuguese and Latin, as well as those mentioned.

Answer: False

There have been a number of German popes including Gregory V (996 - 999), Clement II (1046 - 1047), Damasus II (1048), Leo IX (1049 - 1054), Stephen X (1057), and Adrian VI (1522 - 1523). Some sources claim that because Adrian VI was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, there has not been a German pope for almost a thousand years.

At the time of Adrian VI's birth in 1459, however, Utrecht was part of Germany so this claim is erroneous.

Answer: blessed

Benedict and Gregory are the second most popular names to be chosen by elected popes. The first pope to choose Benedict was a Roman, and he was pope from 575 to 579. The last Pope Gregory was Gregory XVI who reigned from 1831 to 1846. The most common name choice is John, the last Pope John being John XXIII who reigned from 1958 to 1963.