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Ratzinger Born
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger is born in Bavaria, Germany. He was the youngest of three children -
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Drafted into the German Army
Ratzinger, becomes part of the German Army through draft; he does not believe in the things that the Nazi party stands for. -
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Ratzinger's Seminary
Ratzinger joins his brother Georg in his seminary studies, (as a student at a theological school) -
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Ratzinger serves as a parish priest & completes graduate studies.
Ratzinger served as a parish priest and completed his graduate theological studies and started teaching theology. -
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Begins teaching as a professor.
Ratzinger begins his teaching and serves as a theological professor at four different German Universities: Bonn, Muenster, Tuebingen and Regensburg. -
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Ratzinger becomes part of the Second Vatican Council.
Ratzinger serves as a theological expert at the Second Vatican Council -
Ratzinger is appointed Cardinal
He was chosen by Pope Paul VI to be the Archbishop of Munich and Freising and was ordained a bishop and created a cardinal, all within a few months. -
Appointed as Prefect by Pope John Paul II
Ratzinger becomes the Prefect (head of the Vatican's teaching officer) -
Elected as Pope
Cardinal Ratzinger is elected as Pope and chooses Benedict as his Pope name.