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Pope Benedict XVI's Real Name: Joseph Aloisius (Alois) Ratzinger
Pope Benedict XVI's real name was Joseph Ratzinger (full name Joseph Aloisius, or Alois, Ratzinger).
Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, was born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany. He was a theologian, became archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977, and from 1981 led the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Popes traditionally take a new name. Elected on April 19, 2005, at age 78, he chose Benedict, recalling St. Benedict of Nursia, patron saint of Europe, and earlier popes of that name, including Benedict XV, who tried to mediate during World War I.
Citing age and health, he resigned on February 28, 2013, the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415, and took the title pope emeritus. He died on December 31, 2022.
FAQ
Why did Ratzinger choose the name Benedict?
To recall St. Benedict of Nursia and earlier popes named Benedict, especially Benedict XV.
Did Pope Benedict XVI resign?
Yes, in 2013, the first pope to do so since Gregory XII in 1415.