As Dean of the College of Cardinals, he presided over the deliberations in April 2005 during the vacancy of the Holy See following the death of Pope John Paul II. Ratzinger was later elected as the 265th Pontiff and selected his name after Pope Benedict XV who served at the turn of the 20th Century. During his papacy, Pope Benedict was known for his rigid views on Catholicism and issues like birth control methods and homosexuality. However, his term faced leaks of private investigations on allegations of corruption, sexual, and physical abuse by select parish priests. These scandals led to his abdication in 2013 - a first for the Vatican and the world! Now, the pope emeritus resides in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.

Born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, he was six years old when Nazis came to power. His family was anti-Nazi but was later forced, leading to his involvement to the Hitler Youth. When he was still in the seminary in 1943, he was drafted to the German anti-aircraft corps as a Luftwaffenhelfer (air force child soldier) but he deserted and has never been in action. In 1945, he was recognised by the Americans as a soldier and was sent to a prisoner of war camp near his hometown. A few months later, he was released and returned to the seminary.

The fundamental act of religion is prayer, which in the Christian religion acquires a very specific character: it is the act of self-surrender by which we enter the Body of Christ. Thus it is an act of love…The person who prays begins to see.

- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Behold the Pierced One. Ignatius Press: 1984

The 264th successor of St. Peter was elected a month over his predecessor started his term. Pope John Paul I died 33 days after he was elected due to heart attack, and Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła was chosen despite his initial reluctance. Wojtyła aka Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope to be elected in four centuries and has became widely popular among the current generations. He was noted for his conservatism, hard work, and phenomenal energy that attracted enormous crowds when he travels. Pope John Paul II has made a powerful impact on ecumenical and inter-religious dialogues, progressive changes for spiritual practices, and most especially on youth ministry. With his emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,338 people and canonised 482 saints⁠—more than all of the popes in the last five centuries combined.

He was born in Wadowice, Poland on 18 May 1920 to Karol Wojtyła and Emilia Kaczorowska, who later died when he was only nine years old. He was a freshman in the Jagellonian University of Krakow and a member of the Studio 39 theatre troupe when the occupying Nazi forces closed the University in 1939. With this, he worked in a quarry and later in the Solvay chemical factory to earn a living during WWII, as well as avoid being drafted into the army. Meanwhile, he began his studies in a clandestine seminary college in Krakow and organised an underground theatre group called the "Rhapsodic Theatre", which was devoted to Polish romantic literature.

Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ's power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilisation, and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows "what is in man". He alone knows it.

- Pope John Paul II's homily during the inauguration of his pontificate
(St. Peter' Square, Sunday, 22 October, 1978)