When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation from the papacy, it was a shock to many, as very few had anticipated such a decision. Citing declining health due to advanced age, the 85-year-old Bavarian pope stated that his strengths were no longer suited to the adequate exercise of his ministry. His voluntary resignation marked only the third such event in nearly 2,000 years of Catholic Church history, with no pope having resigned since 1415. Reports indicate that Benedict had been considering resignation for almost four years, evidenced by symbolic gestures and statements about a pope's right, and even duty, to resign if unable to perform the role properly. After stepping down, he retired initially to the Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo and later to the refurbished Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican. Despite media perceptions of his papacy as conservative and unsuccessful, his tenure was marked by a steadfast defense of Church principles against modern relativistic and progressive ideas, though scandals during his administration and the toll on his health were evident challenges.

Seventeen days after the death of Pope John Paul II, the College of Cardinals elected Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, as the 265th pontiff of the Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. His election was only mildly surprising, as he was considered the odds-on favorite despite concerns about his age of 78, leading many to view him as a transitional pope who might merely mark time until a younger successor emerges. However, this perception underestimates the man who, as prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, once known as the Inquisition, wielded significant influence for many years. As John Paul II's chief theological adviser for twenty years, Benedict XVI was closely tied to the Vatican's conservative stance, earning nicknames like God's Rottweiler and the Panzer Cardinal for his staunch defense of traditional values. According to reports, he was a driving force in the Vatican behind efforts to address issues such as liberation theology, religious pluralism, and challenges to moral teachings. In his pre-Conclave homily, he expressed a desire to re-evangelize Europe, countering decades of secular humanism. Whether he can achieve these ambitious goals remains uncertain, as opposition from politicians, academics, cultural figures, and even within his own church is likely. Under current conditions, his success may be incremental at best, though external events like economic downturns, increased terrorism, or internal disruptions could potentially align with his aims, prompting Europeans to heed the guidance of the Catholic Church's leader. Early in his pontificate, the Vatican remains relatively quiet, though his prominence as a German theologian raises historical echoes of past European conflicts.

Former Pope Benedict XVI, in a 2007 sermon, emphasized the reality of hell, stating that Jesus came to tell us that He desires all to be in heaven, but hell exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to His love. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, before becoming Pope, he served as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, earning the nickname "God's Rottweiler" for his fierce guardianship of Catholic orthodoxy. His tenure in that role and subsequent papacy reflected a staunch commitment to maintaining traditional teachings, ensuring that doctrinal consistency was upheld with unwavering resolve.

Pope Benedict XVI, the German-born former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, leads over a billion Catholics worldwide and oversees a vast empire of land holdings, churches, companies, universities, and hospitals. His influence extends globally through representatives in every nation, shaping policy to benefit the Roman Catholic Church. With immense wealth, knowledge, and authority, supported by numerous learned advisors, he wields power far beyond the confines of Vatican City in Rome. Despite this, his comments at Regensburg University on September 12 sparked controversy by quoting a fourteenth-century Christian emperor's anti-Islamic remark, igniting protests and potential violence across the Muslim world. At 79, having observed global reactions for decades, he could predict the response to his words, especially given the Vatican's deep understanding of cultural sensitivities and recent events like the Danish cartoon controversy. His remarks were not a blunder but intentional, aimed at fostering dialogue between Christians and Muslims to guard against intolerance and violence, as clarified in his response on September 25 at his summer residence near Rome. He expressed regret for offending Muslims while emphasizing the need for cooperation. His Regensburg speech focused on the relationship between religion and violence, highlighting the incompatibility of violence with the nature of God and the soul. Additionally, upon becoming Pope, Benedict dedicated himself to returning Europe to fundamental Christian values in response to increasing secularization. His past addresses underscored the dangers of relativism and the need for prayer amidst growing secularism among Christians. His Regensburg remarks served as a call to Europe to reject both the fanatical faith of its Muslim minority and the empty secularism of modern society, positioning himself and the Roman Catholic Church as defenders of a reasonable and traditional faith. Despite the turmoil caused, he calculated the remarks were worth it to gauge European attitudes toward the Catholic Church and the papacy in defending Christendom from ongoing challenges, though so far, secular Europe has shown little response to give him hope.

On July 7, 2009, the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), his third, expressing his desire for a radical rethinking of the global economy due to the growing disparity between rich and poor, and advocating for a true world political authority to work for the common good. His call for an international authoritative political body to manage the global economy, revive economies hit by crisis, avoid further imbalances, ensure disarmament, food security, peace, environmental protection, and regulate migration surprised many observers. In the encyclical, he emphasizes the urgent need for reform in global institutions like the United Nations to give poorer nations a voice and to establish a political, juridical, and economic order that fosters international cooperation and solidarity. Benedict's proposal appears to suggest a planetary government with significant power to implement sweeping changes, raising concerns among some due to human corruption and fallibility. However, Douglas A. Sylva argues that Benedict's vision challenges the United Nations and other international organizations to become worthy of authority by committing to authentic human development inspired by values of charity in truth. According to Benedict, a world government capable of such tasks must respect the right to life and promote morally sound actions, criteria he believes the current world order, including the UN, fails to meet due to its promotion of a culture of death and widespread corruption. In his teaching role, Benedict offers a Christian alternative, calling for a moral, social, and political order that aligns with higher principles.