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At a glance

By Times Staff
Published April 20, 2005

THE MAN

Joseph Ratzinger, 78, was born April 16, 1927, in Marktlam Inn, Germany. He was ordained as a priest on June 29, 1951, along with his brother Georg. He taught theology at several German universities before being named archbishop of Munich in March 1977. He was named a cardinal three months later. He was summoned to Rome in November 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he was responsible for enforcing Catholic orthodoxy.

THE NAME

The meaning of the new pope's choice of Benedict XVI as his name may not be clear unless he explains it. Pope Benedict XV reigned from 1914 to 1922 and was seen as a moderate. His papacy was dominated by World War I and by a conflict with Italy over the Vatican's authority in Rome. St. Benedict of Nursia (circa 480-547), was the father of Christian monasticism in the West. He is best known as the author of a rule, or set of guidelines, for monastic living.

The new pope faces a variety of issues. Among them: declining church attendance and a drop in the number of Catholics seeking to become priests and nuns in Europe and North America; many Catholics, especially in wealthy nations, going their own way on abortion and birth control; anger over sexual abuses by priests; and advocates for women continuing to push for a greater, and more equal, role in the church.

At 9 a.m. today Rome time (3 a.m. Eastern), Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in Latin in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals. On Sunday, at 10 a.m. Rome time (4 a.m. Eastern), the new pope is formally installed at St. Peter's Basilica.

[Last modified April 20, 2005, 06:31:31]