Pope congratulates retired pontiff on anniversary of priestly ordination June 29, 2021By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The brothers Georg, left, and Joseph Ratzinger, right, are pictured with their mutual friend Rupert Berger after their priestly ordination June 29, 1951 in Freising, Germany. Pope Francis led pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square in congratulating retired Pope Benedict XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger, on the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination June 29. (CNS photo/KNA) VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis congratulated retired Pope Benedict XVI on the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination. After praying the Angelus prayer with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the pope led the faithful in applauding his predecessor on what he said was “an anniversary that touches all of our hearts.” “Our affection, our gratitude and our closeness go to you, Benedict, dear father and brother,” he said. Born in 1927 in the Bavarian town of Marktl am Inn, Joseph Ratzinger was ordained to the priesthood June 29, 1951, for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. Before his election as pope in 2005, succeeding St. John Paul II, he served for 24 years as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. After retiring from the papacy in 2013, the retired pontiff chose to live in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery at the Vatican, along with Archbishop Georg Ganswein, his personal secretary, and a group of consecrated women. Pope Francis said that although the monastery was meant to house contemplative communities of nuns, the monastery has made Pope Benedict “the contemplative of the Vatican who spends his life praying for the church and for the Diocese of Rome, of which he is emeritus bishop.” Before leading pilgrims in a prolonged applause, the pope thanked Pope Benedict for his years of service to the church and his witness of faith. “Thank you, Benedict, dear father and brother,” the pope said. “Thank you for your credible witness. Thank you for your continuous gaze toward the horizon of God. Thank you.” – – – Also see Political authority should embody humility, honesty, sharing, pope says As Holy Doors close, cardinals emphasize God’s arms are always open Families fostering Gospel values provide hope in dark world, pope says Analysis: Pope Leo spends 2025 steadily navigating church, global waters ‘Hope does not disappoint:’ A Jubilee for the history books Missionary on the move: Where Pope Leo XIV might travel next in 2026 Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
