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Jan 1, 2008 12:00 am US/Eastern
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Timeline: Pope Benedict XVI's Road To The Papacy
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Here are some key dates in the life of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who was elected the new pope and chose the name Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005.
April 16, 1927: Joseph Ratzinger is born in Marktl am Inn, Germany, the son of a policeman.
1929: Family moves to the town of Tittmoning.
1932: His family moves to Traunstein after his father has conflicts with local Nazi Party supporters in Tittmoning.
1941: Enrolls against his will in Hitler Youth. He is dismissed shortly afterward because of his intention to study for the priesthood.
1943: Drafted as a helper for an anti-aircraft unit, he serves in a battery defending a BMW plant.
Sept. 10, 1944: He is dismissed from his unit, but returns home to find a draft notice for forced labor.
Sept. 20, 1944: Leaves home to dig anti-tank trenches.
Nov. 20, 1944: Released from the labor force, he returns home, only to receive an army draft notice three weeks later.
April-May 1945: Deserts from the army and returns home. Ratzinger is captured by Americans as the war ends.
June 19, 1945: Released from a U.S. POW camp, he hitchhikes home on a milk truck.
November 1945: Begins studying for the priesthood in Friesing.
June 29, 1951: He is ordained a priest in Munich, Germany, along with his brother Georg.
1953: Receives a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich.
1959: Begins teaching theology in Bonn, the first of several appointments in German universities.
1969: Leaves the University of Tuebingen, concerned about student unrest which had interrupted his lectures with sit-ins. Takes teaching job in Regensburg in native Bavaria, near his brother.
March 24, 1977: Is named archbishop of Munich and exactly two months later, is ordained a bishop.
June 27, 1977: Is ordained a cardinal and is appointed cardinal-priest of S. Marie Consolatrice al Tiburtino.
Nov. 25, 1981: Is appointed president of International Theological Commission, Prefect of Doctrine of the Faith, and President of Pontifical Biblical Commission, Roman Curia.
Feb. 15, 1982: Resigns as archbishop of Munich.
April 5, 1993: Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Velletri-Segni.
Nov. 30, 2002: Is appointed cardinal-bishop of Ostia.
April 5, 2005: After the death of Pope John Paul II, he resigns as Prefect of Doctrine of the Faith and President of Pontifical Biblical Commission, Roman Curia.
April 19, 2005: Is elected pope by his fellow cardinals, and takes the name Benedict XVI.
April 24, 2005: Is installed as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Aug. 18, 2005: Arrives in Germany for his first foreign trip as pope, to visit World Youth Day, where as many as a million people from 184 countries were expected by the time Benedict celebrates a closing Mass Aug. 21.
Nov. 29, 2005: In the first major ruling of Benedict's reign, the Vatican imposes restrictions on homosexuals entering the Catholic priesthood, saying men must first overcome any "transitory" gay tendencies.
Dec. 25, 2005: Benedict, in his first "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message and blessing, urges humanity to unite against terrorism, poverty and environmental blight and calls for a "new world order" to correct economic imbalances.
Jan. 8, 2006: Benedict performs the first baptisms of his pontificate, using the occasion to launch an impassioned denunciation of irresponsible sex and a "culture of death."
Jan. 9, 2006: The Pope makes his first "state of the world" address, a traditional new year speech to diplomats at the Holy See, and warns of a clash of civilisations caused by the "moral perversion" of terrorism. He urges cuts in arms spending.
Jan. 12, 2006: Pope Benedict, speaking out on hot topics that will figure in campaigning for the coming Italian general election, condemns gay marriage and "abortion pills."
Jan. 25, 2006: Pope releases first encyclical, called "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love).
Feb. 22, 2006: Pope Benedict names 15 new members of the college of cardinals, the body that helps run the Roman Catholic Church and will one day elect a new pontiff.
March 23, 2006: Pope Benedict convenes the College of Cardinals for the first time since his election, inviting its members to share their concerns about the challenges facing the Catholic Church before adding 15 new members to their ranks.
Sept. 12, 2006: During a visit to his native Germany, Benedict sparks protests from the Muslim world after a speech he gave which Muslims said portrayed Islam as a religion tainted by violence and irrationality. Days later, the Pope says he was "deeply sorry" about the reaction and that medieval quotes he used on holy war did not reflect his personal views.
Nov. 12, 2007: It is announced that Pope Benedict is planning to make his first visit to the U.S. as pontiff next year. Officials say he plans to travel to Washington and New York, with visits to the White House, ground zero and the United Nations headquarters during the trip scheduled for April 15-20, 2008.
Credits: CBS News, AP, catholic-hierarchy.org
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)