Why Did Joseph Ratzinger Choose The Name Benedict XVI When He Became Pope?
Joseph Ratzinger (b. 1927 in Germany) chose the name Benedict XVI when he succeeded the late John Paul II in April 2005. His choice served to remember two key figures in church history. One of them was Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922) who led the Catholic Church during the days of World War I. During this time of bloodshed, Benedict XV was a strong advocate of peace and reconciliation. The current Pope referred to Benedict XV as a “courageous prophet of peace” and noted that he took inspiration from this and wanted to use his pontifical reign as an opportunity to build bridges between different nations and cultures. Another reason behind Pope Benedict XVI’s choice of pontifical name was the inspiration he drew from the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia (circa 480 AD – 543 AD) who is seen as the founder of western monasticism and specifically of the Benedictine Order. The name “Benedict” also has a simpler meaning in Latin, namely “the blessed,” and it is likely that this also influenced Pop
