Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ,
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International Theological
Commission, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16 April 1927 in
Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1951.
His father, a police officer, came from a traditional family of farmers from
Lower Baviera. He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, and was called into
the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World War II. From
1946 to 1951, the year in which he was ordained a priest and began to teach, he
studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich and at the higher
school in Freising. In 1953 he obtained a doctorate in theology with a thesis
entitled: "The People and House of God in St. Augustine’s doctrine of the
Church". Four years later, he qualified as a university teacher. He then taught
dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy and theology
of Freising, then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969, Münster from 1963 to 1966, Tubinga
from 1966 to 1969. From 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the
history of dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice President of the same
university.
Already in 1962 he was well known when, at the age of 35, he became a consultor
at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joseph Frings.
Among his numerous publications, a particular post belongs to the ‘Introduction
to Christianity’, a collection of university lessons on the profession of
apostolic faith, published in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an anthology of
essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral ministry, published in
1973.
In March 1977, Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on 28
May 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years to take
over the pastoral ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Paul VI in the consistory of 27 June 1977.
Titular churches, suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni (5 April 1993) and
suburbicarian see of Ostia (30 November 2002).
On 25 November 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical Commission and of the
Pontifical International Theological Commission.
Relator of the 5th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980).
President Delegate to the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983).
Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, 6 November 1998. On 30 November
2002, the Holy Father approved the election, by the order of cardinal bishops,
as Dean of the College of Cardinals.
President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to
the Holy Father.
Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera Università Maria
Santissima Assunta, 10 November 1999.
Honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 13 November 2000.
