Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger

Date of Birth: 16 April, 1927

Place of Birth: Marktl, Bavaria, Weimar Republic

Date of Death: 31 December, 2022

Place of Death: Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City

Ethnicity: German

Pope Benedict XVI was the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He was elected pope, on 19 April, 2005, and resigned from the office, on 28 February, 2013. He was subsequently known as Pope Emeritus. He had been ordained a priest on 29 June, 1951, consecrated on 28 May, 1977, and created cardinal on 27 June, 1977.

Pope Benedict was the son of Maria (Peintner) and Joseph Ratzinger, a police officer. His father was born in Rickering, Winzer, Niederbayern, Bayern. His mother was born in Oberaudorf, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria. His brother, Georg Ratzinger, was a Catholic priest, and was the director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir. His sister, Maria Ratzinger, managed Cardinal Ratzinger’s household until her death. His great-uncle was priest and politician Georg Ratzinger.

He was a member of the Hitler Youth in the 1940s in Germany, by conscription.

Pope Benedict’s paternal grandfather was Josef Ratzinger (the son of Johann Georg Razinger/Ratzinger and Barbara Perlinger). Josef was born in Winzer, Lower Bavaria, Bavaria. Johann was the son of Johann Georg Räzinger and Theresia David. Barbara was the daughter of Martin Perlinger and Anna Maria.

Pope Benedict’s paternal grandmother was Katharina Schmied (the daughter of Georg Schmid and Magdalena Neymaier). Katharina was born in Oberrötzing, Iggensbach, Deggendorf, Bavaria. Georg was the son of Stephanus Schmidt and Anna Maria Kerl. Magdalena was the daughter of Matthias Neumayr and Anna Maria Ambros.

Pope Benedict’s maternal grandfather was named Isidor Rieger (the son of Maria Anna Rieger). Isidor was born in Welden, Bavarian Swabia, Bavaria.

Pope Benedict’s maternal grandmother was Maria Tauber-Peintner (the daughter of Anton Peter Peintner and Elisabeth Maria Tauber). Pope Benedict’s grandmother Maria was born in Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy, of German descent. Anton was the son of Josef Peintner and Maria.

Source: Genealogy of Pope Benedict XVI – http://www.geni.com