A Look Back at the Early Life of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI | EWTN News Nightly

About this sermon

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on Saturday at the age of 95 following a brief illness. At the Vatican preparations are underway for his funeral. We take a look at the life of Pope Benedict XVI. His journey to the Chair of Peter began in a small town in Bavaria. He was born to a devout Catholic family on April 16, 1927 in Marktl, Germany. His father was a policeman and his mother was a homemaker. Although his family despised the Nazis, Joseph Ratzinger was 14 when he was conscripted into the Hitler Youth—as membership was required by law for all 14-year-old German boys. He was later drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps. In 1945, he deserted back to his family's home and later interned in a prisoner of war camp, but was released a few months later at the end of the war in May 1945. After the war ended, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained at age 24. He went on to earn a doctorate in theology and became a professor. EWTN News Nightly provides the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Join host Tracy Sabol, our Capitol Hill, White House and Rome Correspondents, as well as many other diverse guests daily, to get the latest from the U.S. and the Vatican on topics regarding our Catholic faith and interests. ------------- EWTN News Nightly airs on EWTN weekdays at 6pm & 9pm ET. ------------ Don't miss an episode of EWTN New Nightly. Get updates here: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/ewtn-news-nightly ------------- Sign up today to receive the EWTN News Nightly newsletter: https://www.ewtn.com/enn ------------- Follow EWTN News Nightly on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnnewsnightly Twitter: https://twitter.com/EWTNNewsNightly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewtnnewsnightly/ ------------- Subscribe to EWTN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/EWTN ------------- You can support the EWTN News mission: https://bit.ly/3qDR1qf