Why Cardinal Ratzinger Chose the Name Pope Benedict XVI > NetSparsh

Home
>
Religion
>
Why Cardinal Ratzinger Chose the Name Pope Benedict XVI

Why Cardinal Ratzinger Chose the Name Pope Benedict XVI

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected to the papal throne on April 19, 2005, the second day of the conclave. He chose to be known henceforth as Pope Benedict XVI. The cardinal from Germany is the 265th pope in the Catholic Church history.

But why the name Benedict? We have long been accustomed to having a pope named John, or Paul, or a combination thereof. In fact, quite many catholics today have known only one pope in their lifetime. Well, at least before the late Pope John Paul II passed away and Pope Benedict XVI came along. Some, though, who are much older have also known Pope John Paul I and Pope Paul VI. A few lucky ones can even remember as far back as Pope John XXIII, the smiling pope who initiated the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960's.

Why Benedict? In his first general audience held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope explained that he chose the name Benedict XVI as a link to Benedict XV, the Italian pope who guided the Church during the turbulent era of the First World War. Pope Benedict XV tried many times, though unsuccessfuly, to negotiate peace among the warring nations. He organized significant humanitarian efforts to guarantee the well-being and freedom of people affected by the war.

As the new Pope in a seemingly chaotic and confused age we live in today, Benedict XVI hopes that the Church may contribute significantly in attaining reconciliation and harmony between peoples of different creed, ideology, race and economic status.

The name Benedict also brings to mind the extraordinary figure of the great reformer of Europe, St. Benedict. This remarkable man, through the Benedictine Order which he founded, exercised an enormous influence on the spread of Christianity throughout the European continent.

Pope Benedict XVI is appealing to St. Benedict to help the present-day Church make Christ's teachings occupy central position in the hearts of all Christians. The Pope is well aware that to solve the enormous problems the Church is facing today, he would need the tenacity and gutsiness of Benedict XV and the charm and influence of St. Benedict.

Nathaniel Quest frequently writes articles on different topics that hold significant importance on people's lives. Some of his websites include Opportunities.typepad.com and Shoes.marketphil.com. He can be reached at [email protected]

In The News:

Parents finding it ‘impossible’ to opt children out of religion education The Irish TimesConstitution gives parents a right to withdraw their child from religion classes.

The place of religion in school NotedEvents such as the Christchurch massacre have sparked a *fresh* conversation over religious studies in our school system.

Religion and science don’t contradict — they just answer different questions JTA NewsGary Saul Morson · Morton Schapiro. September 16, 2019 4:15 pm. Earth as seen from space. (Pixabay). Advertisement. CHICAGO (JTA) — It has been 60 ...

Catholic school backs ‘homework pass’ for attending religious event The Irish TimesAtheist parent alleges son discriminated against for not attending Communion choir.

Will Probe Scams Committed in Name of Religion and Narmada, Says Kamal Nath News18Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday promised to launch an investigation into scams in the name of religion and the Narmada river ...

Children who opt out of religion in primary are denied teaching for 129 full school days The Irish TimesIt is time for church bodies to address religious teaching time in our schools.

Hong Kong Christians fear religious freedom could be 'gone forever' Fox NewsHong Kong Christians fear freedom of religion could be "gone forever" despite extradition bill withdrawal and the country's leader Carrie Lam's efforts to ease ...

For some in Romania, the president's religion is a problem Emerging EuropeRomania's presidential election, the first round of which will be held in November, is likely to see renewed attacks on the ethnicity and faith of the country's ...

Education Ministry moves to end practice of recording pupils' religion | Kathimerini www.ekathimerini.comA decision by the Education Ministry made public on Tuesday puts an official end to the practice of Greek schools keeping records of the religious faith of pupils ...

Kanye West: What Religion Is the Rapper and Does He Have His Own Church? Showbiz Cheat SheetKanye West's Sunday *Service* has been raising questions about the rapper's beliefs and devotion. Find out what religion he identifies with, and more!

Scholars of sociology, religion, and civil rights to take on gun violence and hate speech [email protected]Six months ago, a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 people in the worst atrocity in the modern history of the country.

Religion in the age of Trump Religion News Service(RNS) — “They hate religion,” wrote New York Times columnist Timothy Egan recently in a column titled “Why People Hate Religion,” “because, at a moment to ...

53 religious communities in Vietnam commemorating victims of acts of violence Religion News ServiceBased on religion or belief, with government interference documented in five communities. Responding to the call by UN Secretary General António Gutteres, ...

World’s religious leaders urge co-operation to ‘fight against prejudice’ The NationalInterfaith dialogue can “fight against prejudice” and pave the way for mutual trust and understanding between people, religious leaders said at a major gathering ...

In Georgia, a Democrat launches a campaign that's all about faith Religion News Service(RNS) — Mixtures of religion and politics aren't exactly unusual in Georgia, a state situated squarely in the heart of the Bible Belt where asking someone where ...

People wearing saffron robes committing rapes, defaming ancient religion, says Congress leader Digvijaya... FirstpostWhile Digvijaya Singh did not take names, his comments come close on the heels of a SIT probe into allegations of rape against BJP leader Swami ...

Why People Hate Religion The New York TimesThe charlatans and phonies preen and punish, while those of real faith do Christ's work among refugees.

Mississippi students protest time change for religious group's meeting, sparking a GetReligion question GetReligionNow ... is it only important for reporters to keep in mind that 'The Freedom From Religion Foundation has an agenda,' or can religious believers have an agenda, ...

relational religion of Martin Buber: A review of Paul Mendes-Flohr The Christian CenturyFollowing a fall college semester abroad in Jerusalem, with instruction from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian teachers, I spent the January term reading Martin ...

Religious Crusaders at the Supreme Court’s Gates The New York TimesConservative justices appear eager to take on a subject at the heart of the country's culture wars.

AI will transform religion with robot priests like this one Vox.comA new priest named Mindar is holding forth at Kodaiji, a 400-year-old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Like other clergy members, this priest can deliver ...

What atheists and agnostics know about religion: 5 key findings Pew Research CenterAtheists and agnostics know more about religion than most other religious groups, while those with no particular religion are among the least knowledgeable.

Love your neighbor: Use their preferred pronoun Religion News Service(RNS) — Last month, hundreds of thousands of freshly minted high school graduates stepped onto university campuses for their first day of classes as freshman ...

USCIRF Report Documents How China's Surveillance State Threatens Religious Freedom United States Commission on International Religious FreedomFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2019. WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF(Opens in ...

Richard Dawkins: ‘Brexit is now a religion. They don’t mind if they destroy the country’ The Irish TimesThe atheist biologist has written a new book about God but what really worries him is closer to home.

What is the religious discrimination bill and what will it do? The GuardianAustralia's religious discrimination bill has a broad meaning including religious observance, dress and expression of religious belief.

The Atlantic bravely attempts a religion-free (almost) look at New York kids in the culture wars GetReligionOne of the most talked about articles in the American news media last week, at least in the Twitter-verse, was not a news piece. But it could have been a news ...

Faith and grace: Where was religion during the Democratic debate? Deseret NewsBeyond one shoutout to faith-based values and a short Bible verse, candidates failed to draw upon religion as they laid out their visions for a better future.

Ethics and Religion Talk - Elder Sex Before Marriage The RapidianKimberly asks, Is it wrong for two late-50 year old adults who are divorced to have sex before getting married? Dr Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and ...

From National Review, a Rave for Aeschliman on the “Religion of Science” Discovery InstituteThe new book from Discovery Institute Press is an updated, expanded reissue of the classic by Michael Aeschliman, The Restoration of Man: C. S. Lewis and the ...

Americans increasingly reject religion as politicians in Pennsylvania reject atheists and agnostics NBC NewsA court ruling in Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives says atheists and agnostics are barred from giving the invocation.

Why so many non-religious Europeans pay church taxes The EconomistIN THE Old Testament, priests are told to take a tenth of every believer's crops as a tax to support the faith. In these latter days, they can outsource the job to the ...

Religion's blurred lines Duke ChronicleIn comparison to the shiny, publicized culture of other religions, my religion felt different, like it was hiding in the shadows.

UK Appoints New PM Envoy for Freedom of Religion & Belief GOV.UKRehman Chishti MP to succeed the current envoy, Lord Ahmad, to further the government's work to promote the UK's firm stance on religious freedom and ...

Pete Buttigieg: Lawmakers Must Treat Religious and Non-Religious People Equally PatheosMayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Cory Booker, more than the other Democrats, have been talking about their personal faith ever since stepping onto the campaign ...

Should College Students Get a Break for Religious Holidays? One State Says Yes. Religion & PoliticsMennah El-Gammal struggled to juggle finals with her Muslim faith her last three years as a student at the University of Washington in Seattle. She was fasting.

Israel’s election campaign has been a religious war of words JTA NewsJERUSALEM (JTA) — One Israeli campaign ad depicts an Orthodox politician demanding “all the money in Israel.” There's one of a secular Israeli man knocking ...

Religious discrimination bill could legalise race hate speech, Law Council warns The GuardianPresident Arthur Moses says proposed law contains a 'narrower' protection for racial discrimination than exists under section 18C.

The Arizona Supreme Court Strikes a Powerful Blow for Free Speech and Religious Freedom National ReviewFree speech and religious liberty are on a winning streak. Last month the Eighth Circuit Court of appeals ruled that Christian wedding photographers could not ...

The Real Reason Kanye West Doesn't Believe in Religion Showbiz Cheat SheetEvery week, Kanye West hosts Sunday services for his celebrity friends. But even though he enjoys the *service* and discussion of God, West insists that he ...

UN calls for eliminating violence against religion Vatican NewsThe International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion and Belief was observed by the United Nations for the first time ...

Putting the R-word in politics: How religion has become the sleeper issue of the 2019 election National PostIn the controversial context of an election, the best thing to say about religion is nothing, but nicely. So the present campaign is unusual for Canada.

What it means to 'get' religion in 2020 Religion News Service(RNS) — Following the 2016 presidential election, Dean Baquet, then executive editor of The New York Times, declared that one of his “big jobs” was to “really ...

Rampant child abuse in Turkey's religious schools AhvalReligious schools in Turkey have been hit by a string of sexual abuse scandals in recent years, yet due to links to the ruling party, the crimes are often hushed up ...

Religion has 'valuable role' in forming culture of peace, says UN nuncio Crux: Covering all things CatholicReligion can make an important contribution "to forming a culture of peace," both to "empower and transform individuals" and "humanity as a whole," the ...

Religion is Dangerous to Drowsy and Wicked People National Catholic RegisterSomeone has said, “Truth is dangerous, and religious truth is the most dangerous of all.” The positive reading of this dangerous quote is that religious truth is a ...

Religious schools in fear of same-sex activists The AustralianCatholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher has warned activist-backed legal cases launched against religious schools threaten the very future of faith-based ...

Trump says Democrats are 'not big believers in religion' during North Carolina rally CNNPresident Donald Trump cast Tuesday's special election in North Carolina and the 2020 presidential election as a fight for the status quo, describing Democrats ...

When Islam Is Not a Religion in America ChristianityToday.comMuslim lawyer who helped Hobby Lobby and Hosanna-Tabor win at the Supreme Court details the difficulties Muslims face in securing the freedoms that US ...

Duke University's student government rejects Young Life over LGBTQ policies Religion News Service(RNS) — Duke University's student government has denied the Christian organization Young Life official status as a student group on campus, citing its policy on ...

Jacqui Lambie says she sees no case for religious discrimination bill The GuardianTasmanians 'seem satisfied' with existing law and 'don't really want this changed', key crossbench senator says.

In St. Louis, mapping how religion is lived — in sanctuaries holy and profane Religion News ServiceST. CHARLES, Mo. (RNS) — Perched on his mat in the back corner of the room, Adam Park performed a series of yoga poses just like the others: ...

Interfaith group pledges to use religion's influence to address climate change, poverty Religion News ServiceLINDAU, Germany (RNS) — The international interfaith organization Religions for Peace introduced its first-ever female and first-ever Muslim secretary-general ...

Baugo schools removes political, religious material from classroom of Jimtown teacher WSBT-TVThe Baugo Community School corporation says political and religious materials were removed from the classroom of a longtime Jimtown High School teacher ...

Religious schools should be required to enrol a mix of religions: Hindu Council Sydney Morning HeraldReligious schools should be required to admit a certain percentage of teachers and students from other religions so children can learn about other faiths, the ...

Religious discrimination bill attacked as 'extraordinary foray in the culture wars' The GuardianFormer Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner says the bill gives a 'special cloak of protection' to potentially toxic views.

Pakistan faces heat at UNHRC over religious discrimination; blasphemy laws Economic TimesNEW DELHI: The spotlight at second phase of the ongoing UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session (Sept. 9-27) in Geneva is on religious discrimination ...

Ken the Hen Gender Ambiguity Chicken explains the religious discrimination bill The GuardianIt's special treatment for the most marginalised victims: older white male Christians!

Religious Groups Are Giving Plant-Based Eating a Boost ForbesSpiritual groups have a huge potential to support many more people in altering their diets for the good of the planet, for animals suffering in factory farms, and for ...

When Faith Comes Up, Students Avert Their Eyes The AtlanticIn college classrooms, where almost anything is up for discussion, religious ideas are met with awkward silence.

Climate change activist to speak at ECU’s 27th ‘Religion & Culture’ event WNCTGREENVILLE, NC (WNCT) – An environmentalist, professor, and journalist researching climate change will be the featured speaker at a public event to be held ...

Christian Website Condemns Religious Indoctrination… by Muslims | Hemant Mehta PatheosI was shocked to see LifeSiteNews — a Catholic website that usually promotes conservative beliefs, opposes abortion rights, and argues against LGBTQ ...

“Religions for Peace” pledge concrete actions for common good of mankind Vatican NewsBy Robin Gomes. The 10th World Assembly of "Religions for Peace", the world's most representative, multi-religious gathering of religious communities, ...

Letter: All religions can teach us lessons Auburn CitizenI would like to respond to Murray Lynch's Sept. 12 letter to the editor, titled “Students should get religious education.” The first thing I want to do is ask, “Which.

Yoursay: Zuraida, single religion townships don't promote universal values MalaysiakiniYOURSAY | 'The new government was supposed to make things better. Not worse.'

Beating boy to death, asking him to chant religious slogans insult to Hinduism: Karan Singh India TodayAddressing a gathering during the launch of a book written by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Singh said, "Beating a defenceless boy to death and asking him to ...

Robert Kirby: Divorcing strictly over religion violates my articles of faith Salt Lake TribunePeople divorce for a lot of reasons. Most are probably valid — abuse, infidelity, finances, insanity, extraterrestrial-ism, whatever. Having a partner cheat on you is ...

LGBT Advocates Warn Australia's Religious Freedom Bill 'Hands a Sword to People of Faith' NewsweekThe announcement of a religious-freedom bill comes three months after rugby player Israel Folau was fired for claiming "Hell awaits" gay people.

Toronto report asks province to consider removing philosophical, religious immunization exemptions Global NewsA report from Toronto's chief medical officer is calling on the province to consider not allowing parents to seek immunization exemptions for religious or ...

UN Chief Launches Effort to Protect Religious Places, Worshippers Voice of AmericaThe Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has launched an effort to protect religious sites around the world. His announcement Thursday ...

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Has climate change become a religion? Newstalk ZBIs it just me or has climate change become a religion? I ask this because I opened the newspaper this morning to be confronted by a campaign that virtually.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Plans to End Religious Exemption For Vaccinations The Wall Street JournalConnecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said on Monday that the state should join a handful of others that require minors to receive vaccinations for preventable diseases, ...

‘Woke’ religion filling the void in modern societies The AustralianPost-materialist activists and ultra-moralist guardians are tuning in and turning up everywhere. On Twitter and the ABC, of course, but time-rich wokerati also can ...

Do Australians lack protection against religious discrimination? ABC NewsLiberal backbencher Trent Zimmerman says that in Australia there is no protection in place that prohibits discrimination against someone because of their ...

Religious schools under fire The Catholic WeeklySo-called “equality” advocates are showing their anti-freedom credentials with the latest complaint to be lodged against a Christian school for having the ...

Trump religion envoy blames 'guilt complex' for Western reluctance to protect Christians Washington ExaminerAmbassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said Christians are possibly facing the worst period of persecution in history and ...

UNPO urges EU to designate Pakistan as violator of religious freedom India TodayHighlighting the deplorable conditions of minorities in Pakistan, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) on Thursday urged the European ...

China: Ban on Tibet Religious Activity Toughened Human Rights WatchA Chinese Communist Party notice banning retired Tibetan government employees from taking part in religious activities violates China's commitment to ...

In push for race and religion, Malaysian opposition formalises pact FirstpostKUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's two oldest political parties signed a charter of formal cooperation on Saturday, presenting arguably the largest political ...

Raja Mandala: Myth of religious solidarity The Indian ExpressAs Pakistan struggles to mobilise the international community against India's decision last month to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir, its chattering ...

No One Needs Religion to Live a Moral Life PatheosOne of the most common criticisms of atheism is that you need God to have a sense of morality. How can you tell right from wrong without some objective ...

TFRL announces inaugural cohort of national Religious Literacy Fellows Religion News ServiceNEW YORK — The Foundation for Religious Literacy is honored to announce the inaugural cohort of national Religious Literacy Fellows. Grantees were ...

Pete Buttigieg: Religious left is 'stirring' Religion News Service(RNS) — Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has garnered a lot of attention for using God-talk during his presidential campaign. From regular ...

Pete Buttigieg has called climate change a religious crisis — but is he brave enough to do it in evangelical Texas? The IndependentAt the recent CNN town hall on climate disruption, the big-screen backdrop behind the hosts and the candidates did not read “Climate Change,” it read “Climate ...

Pastor, author and mental health advocate Jarrid Wilson dies by suicide Religion News Service(RNS) — Jarrid Wilson, a California church leader, author and mental health advocate, died by suicide Monday evening (Sept. 9) at age 30. Wilson, known as a ...

Which religions support gun control in the US? Religion News ServiceWith mass shootings becoming a regular occurrence in the United States and gun control efforts largely stalled in government, it's worth dissecting which ...

Trump Labels Democrats As Non-Religious But Surveys Show Otherwise HuffPostPresident Donald Trump made another appeal to his white evangelical fan base on Monday, suggesting to a crowd of supporters that Democrats aren't religious.

Opinion | The intolerant new religion that is perceived victimhood LivemintIn July, the city of Berkeley in California decided to purge gender from its law books. “Manhole" would now be “maintenance hole". No “sisters" or “brothers"; only ...

Karl Marx and Religion CounterPunchKarl Marx is widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated theorists of human history. Marx was above all a scientist. He used the term historical materialism ...

The religious discrimination bill should not allow the far right to have their way The GuardianWe need our white allies in the queer community to stand with us as we call for balanced religious discrimination protection.

Universal Compassion on the menu at the third annual DC World Religion Conference Dawson Creek MirrorSaturday September 14 saw the 3rd annual WRC at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre. Hosted by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada, event coordinators ...

Canada's Trudeau says he could one day challenge Quebec ban on religious symbols ReutersOTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said for the first time he might challenge a decision by the province of Quebec to ban ...

Women may find it tougher to get an abortion if the religious discrimination bill becomes law The Conversation AUDoctors who won't perform abortions on religious grounds may have stronger legal protection and may not be compelled to refer women to an alternative ...

Bishop Burbidge leads the annual convocation of religious sisters Arlington Catholic HeraldReligious sisters pray at Mass at the annual convocation for religious sisters at St. Agnes Church in Arlington Sept. 14. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC ...

Organized religion is out, astrology is in The Nevada SagebrushAstrology is all the rage. That's no secret. Any highly intuitive Cancer or observant Virgo can see that many Millennials and GenZers now incorporate astrology ...

Trump wants to cut down on legal immigration. Here's how that will affect religious workers. America MagazineNew immigration rules may have serious ramifications for those coming to the U.S. to work as teachers, chaplains or health care workers, writes Sister Sally ...

The reality of religion and politics Toronto StarIt is important to understand the often tumultuous and polarizing role of religion in the policies of our federal leaders.

Pope to clergy and religious in Madagascar: 'be a sign of His living presence' Vatican NewsBy Linda Bordoni. Pope Francis wrapped up his two-day Apostolic Visit to Madagascar on Sunday evening at Antananarivo's Saint Michel College, an institute ...

For many religious Americans, the word 'liberal' has become taboo Religion News Service(RNS) — The Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, has made himself into a cable news celebrity by denouncing Democrats as “godless” ...

Animal slaughter ruling in Belgium stirs religious freedom debate Al Jazeera EnglishNew law says animals must be stunned before slaughter, winning activists' support but upsetting Jews and Muslims.

Why Cardinal Ratzinger Chose the Name Pope Benedict XVI

Religion Religion