STORY: The former Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was elected Pope and thus the head of the Vatican in 2005 – his inauguration was celebrated by thousands, especially in Germany, because of his origins. Born in Marktl am Inn in Bavaria in 1927, he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977. In 1989 he became head of the Vatican Faith Authority. In this capacity he was considered an uncompromising representative of the conservative wing in the Vatican. He disciplined followers of liberation theology in Latin America and thereby earned the reputation of “God’s Rottweiler”. In 2013, Benedict became the first pope in 600 years to resign as head of the Catholic Church. Since then he has lived in seclusion in the Vatican. He justified his resignation with the fact that, due to his age, he no longer had the strength to fulfill papal duties. Thus Benedict XVI opened. also a way out of the pontificate for his successors should their strength dwindle. Recently it has been said for months that Benedict is physically weak and can hardly speak. Mentally, however, he is fit according to the circumstances. At irregular intervals, Benedict, who was cared for by his long-time companion Georg Gänswein and nuns, also received visitors. The former archbishop of Munich and Freising came under pressure from a German media report in 2022. He is said to have failed to take adequate action in four cases of child abuse by church members between 1977 and 1982. In an emotional, personal letter, he then explained that mistakes had been made and that he begged for forgiveness.