Benedict XVI, 2005 News

formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was named pope by the conclave of cardinals in April. He was born in Bavaria in 1927. Pope Benedict XVI is known as an accomplished scholar of theology and is considered an archconservative in his religious views. In the past few years he acted as Pope John Paul II's right-hand man and is expected to continue the policy of a “strong Rome,” that is, keeping dioceses under tight control of Rome.