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Joseph Ratzinger,
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.
Curial
Membership:
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Secretariat of State (second section)
-
Oriental Churches, Divine Worship and
Sacraments, Bishops, Evangelization of Peoples, Catholic Education
(congregations)
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Christian Unity, Culture (councils)
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Latin America, Ecclesia Dei (commissions)
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