Who is BENEDICT?

Benedict's full name and title is - His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.  Born on 16 April 1927 and baptised Joseph Alois Ratzinger, Benedict XVI is the 265th Pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

He was elected on 19 April 2005 and celebratedhis Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, succeeding  Pope John Paul II.  Following his election in April 2005, Benedict's first international visit was to Cologne – and his homeland Germany – for World Youth Day 2005.  His visit to Sydney will be his first tour to Oceania and the first Papal visit to Australia in 13 years. 

For further information click below:

Pope Benedict XVI

The history of all the Pope Benedicts (I-16) 

St Benedict, the founder of western monasticism

World Youth Day 

Pope John Paul II, the founder of World Youth Day