Benedict XVI Biography

Birth of Benedict XVI, Joseph Alois Ratzinger

Appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising

Appointed Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni

Appointed Pope, 1st German Pope since the 11th century

Formally inaugurated during the Papal Inauguration Mass

Benedict XVI begins the beatification process for his predecessor, Pope John Paul II

First canonizations when he canonized Josef Bilczewski, Alberto Hurtado SJ, Zygmunt Gorazdowski, Gaetano Catanoso and Felice da Nicosia. The canonizations were part of a Mass that marked the conclusion of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the Year of the Eucharist

On the final day of the Pope's visit, he visited the World Trade Center site and later celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Patrick's Cathedral, met with disabled children and their families, and attended an event for Catholic youth, where he addressed some 25,000 young people in attendance.

The Pope also met privately with victims of sexual abuse by priests. The Pope travelled to New York where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly. Also while in New York, the Pope celebrated Mass at St.

Arrives in Washington, DC where he was received at the White House and met President Bush.

While in Washington, he addressed representatives of US Catholic universities, met with leaders of other world religions, and celebrated Mass at the Washington Nationals' baseball stadium with 47,000 people.

During a visit to the United Kingdom, Benedict proclaims the beatification of John Henry Newman

The Vatican confirms that Benedict XVI would resign the papacy on 28 February 2013, as a result of his advanced age, the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415