Religious Leader
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI was born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He ordained as a priest at age 24 and became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at 54.
Pope Benedict XVI was born in 1927 and lived to age 95. Anyone born before 1927 is older than Pope. Anyone over 95 is older than Pope ever was.
Born
April 16, 1927
Marktl am Inn, Germany
World pop: ~2B
Died
December 31, 2022
World pop: ~8B
Pope's age at death
95
Your age
20
Are you older than Pope Benedict XVI?
No — Pope Benedict XVI was born in 1927. You were born in 2006, making you 79 years younger. Pope lived to age 95. You are currently 20, so you are not yet older than Pope was when he died.
At your age (20), Pope hadn't yet reached his first major milestone. Pope was 24 when he ordained as a priest — that's 4 years from now for you.
Pope's Life Timeline
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, known as Pope Benedict XVI, was born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He grew up in a devout Catholic family, which influenced his early education and spiritual development. He joined the seminary at a young age and was ordained a priest in 1951, eventually becoming a prominent theologian and a professor of dogmatic theology.
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Benedict XVI became the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981, a position he held until his election as pope in 2005. He was elected as the 265th pope after the death of Pope John Paul II and served until his resignation in 2013, making him the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. During his papacy, he emphasized the importance of faith and reason, addressed issues such as the sexual abuse crisis in the Church, and made significant efforts to improve relations with other religions.
After his resignation, Benedict XVI took the title of Pope Emeritus and lived in the Vatican until his death on December 31, 2022. His legacy includes a commitment to theological scholarship and a focus on the challenges facing the modern Church. He is remembered for his humility and dedication to the Catholic faith, as well as for his unprecedented decision to step down from the papacy.
Ordained as a priest
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 24 years old when he was ordained as a priest in 1951. This event marked the beginning of his long and influential career within the Catholic Church, where he would later rise to significant positions of leadership.
Pope Benedict XVI was 24 years old when he ordained as a priest in 1951. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 54 years old when he became the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981. This role placed him at the forefront of doctrinal issues within the Church and solidified his reputation as a leading theologian.
Pope Benedict XVI was 54 years old when he became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Was elected as Pope
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 78 years old when he was elected as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. His election followed the death of Pope John Paul II and marked the beginning of a significant papacy focused on faith, reason, and interfaith dialogue.
Pope Benedict XVI was 78 years old when he was elected as Pope in 2005. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Published 'Jesus of Nazareth'
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 80 years old when he published 'Jesus of Nazareth' in 2007. This work reflected his theological insights and was part of his effort to engage with contemporary issues facing the Church.
Pope Benedict XVI was 80 years old when he published 'Jesus of Nazareth' in 2007. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Addressed the sexual abuse crisis
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 85 years old when he addressed the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in 2012. His acknowledgment of the issue marked a significant moment in the Church's efforts to confront past abuses and restore trust.
Pope Benedict XVI was 85 years old when he addressed the sexual abuse crisis in 2012. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Resigned as Pope
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 86 years old when he resigned as Pope in 2013. His resignation was a historic event, as he became the first pope to step down in nearly 600 years, citing his declining health as the reason.
Pope Benedict XVI was 86 years old when he resigned as Pope in 2013. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Died
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was 95 years old when he died on December 31, 2022. His passing marked the end of a significant chapter in the history of the Catholic Church, reflecting on his contributions and the impact of his papacy.
Pope Benedict XVI was 95 years old when he died in 2022. Are you older than Pope was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Age by Year
| Year | Age | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 0 | |
| 1928 | 1 | |
| 1929 | 2 | |
| 1930 | 3 | |
| 1931 | 4 | |
| 1932 | 5 | |
| 1933 | 6 | |
| 1934 | 7 | |
| 1935 | 8 | |
| 1936 | 9 | |
| 1937 | 10 | |
| 1938 | 11 | |
| 1939 | 12 | |
| 1940 | 13 | |
| 1941 | 14 | |
| 1942 | 15 | |
| 1943 | 16 | |
| 1944 | 17 | |
| 1945 | 18 | |
| 1946 | 19 | |
| 1947 | 20 | |
| 1948 | 21 | |
| 1949 | 22 | |
| 1950 | 23 | |
| 1951 | 24 | ordained as a priest |
| 1952 | 25 | |
| 1953 | 26 | |
| 1954 | 27 | |
| 1955 | 28 | |
| 1956 | 29 | |
| 1957 | 30 | |
| 1958 | 31 | |
| 1959 | 32 | |
| 1960 | 33 | |
| 1961 | 34 | |
| 1962 | 35 | |
| 1963 | 36 | |
| 1964 | 37 | |
| 1965 | 38 | |
| 1966 | 39 | |
| 1967 | 40 | |
| 1968 | 41 | |
| 1969 | 42 | |
| 1970 | 43 | |
| 1971 | 44 | |
| 1972 | 45 | |
| 1973 | 46 | |
| 1974 | 47 | |
| 1975 | 48 | |
| 1976 | 49 | |
| 1977 | 50 | |
| 1978 | 51 | |
| 1979 | 52 | |
| 1980 | 53 | |
| 1981 | 54 | became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith |
| 1982 | 55 | |
| 1983 | 56 | |
| 1984 | 57 | |
| 1985 | 58 | |
| 1986 | 59 | |
| 1987 | 60 | |
| 1988 | 61 | |
| 1989 | 62 | |
| 1990 | 63 | |
| 1991 | 64 | |
| 1992 | 65 | |
| 1993 | 66 | |
| 1994 | 67 | |
| 1995 | 68 | |
| 1996 | 69 | |
| 1997 | 70 | |
| 1998 | 71 | |
| 1999 | 72 | |
| 2000 | 73 | |
| 2001 | 74 | |
| 2002 | 75 | |
| 2003 | 76 | |
| 2004 | 77 | |
| 2005 | 78 | was elected as Pope |
| 2006 | 79 | |
| 2007 | 80 | published 'Jesus of Nazareth' |
| 2008 | 81 | |
| 2009 | 82 | |
| 2010 | 83 | |
| 2011 | 84 | |
| 2012 | 85 | addressed the sexual abuse crisis |
| 2013 | 86 | resigned as Pope |
| 2014 | 87 | |
| 2015 | 88 | |
| 2016 | 89 | |
| 2017 | 90 | |
| 2018 | 91 | |
| 2019 | 92 | |
| 2020 | 93 | |
| 2021 | 94 | |
| 2022 | 95 | died |
