Religion
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, head of the Roman Catholic Church from April 2005 to February 2013, is dead. The Bavarian died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the Vatican, as the Holy See announced. Throughout his life, Ratzinger had a very special relationship with Upper Austria.
Even as a child, the German born in 1927 not far from the Upper Austrian border regularly came to Upper Austria accompanied by his mother.
Made three vacations in the Petrinum in Linz
The provincial capital Linz has become a popular travel destination for him and his two siblings Maria and Georg over the years. The late Pope spent three holidays at the Episcopal Gymnasium Petrinum Linz, most recently in 1991 as a cardinal.
Mühlviertel as a popular travel destination
During his purely private vacations, Josef Ratzinger was particularly taken with the Mühlviertel. As a cardinal, he celebrated a mass there, among other things. Because of the connection to a fellow student, Ratzinger also visited the Wilhering Abbey.
withdrawal for health reasons
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who was born in Marktl am Inn, was a professor at several German universities for many years, from 1977 Archbishop of Munich and Freising and five years later as Curia Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
For health reasons, he resigned his office as Pope almost ten years ago. After his resignation, he lived a secluded life in the Vatican. The conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter from St. Radegund was also beatified on his behalf as Pope.
health speculation
A few days before his death, there had been speculation regarding the state of health of the 95-year-old. The incumbent Pope Francis said at his general audience on Wednesday that his predecessor was “very ill”. Among other things, he called for prayer for Ratzinger.
The Vatican recently reported “breathing problems” regarding which the emeritus pope had complained before Christmas.
