Question I: What is the real name of Pope Benedict XVI?
a)    Josef Hermann Ratzinger
b)    Joseph Hans Ratzinger
c)    Joseph Humm Ratziner
d)    Joseph Alois Ratzinger

Question II: What was his father's occupation:
a)    Police officer
b)    Government bureaucrat
c)    Soldier
d)    Prison guard

Question III: Ratzinger was forced to serve in the German military in WWII. How did he escape combat?
a)    He surrendered to the Americans as soon as they approached.
b)    He deserted and returned to his home before seeing combat.
c)    He took refuge in a monastery and was protected by monks.
d)    He became ill and was sent to a hospital before he could fight.

Question IV: What did Ratzinger do as soon as the war ended in 1945?
a)    He entered the seminary.
b)    He traveled to Poland where he met Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II.
c)    He worked on a farm for three years while he completed college.
d)    He attempted to marry his hometown sweetheart, but ended the engagement before the wedding.

Question V: True or False, Ratzinger was relatively liberal in his theological views when he was young.
a)    True
b)    False

Question VI: Ratzinger has held several jobs within the Church. Which of the following was NOT a job he held?
a)    Chair of dogmatic theology at the University of Tubingen
b)    Bishop of the Diocese of Munich
c)    Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
d)    Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Question VII: True or False, Ratzinger had a desire to become pope.
a)    True
b)    False

Question VIII: Benedict has a Twitter account. What is his name on Twitter?
a)    @Benedict
b)    @Benedixt_XVI
c)    @HabemusPapam
d)    @Pontifex

Question IX: Benedict isn't the first pope to resign. How many have resigned BEFORE him?
a)    1
b)    2
c)    4
d)    9

Question X: Pope Benedict XVI will no longer be known as pope following his resignation. What will his new title be?
a)    Cardinal Benedict
b)    Father Ratzinger
c)    Pontiff emeritus
d)    Brother Josef

The answers are at the bottom of the page, scroll down to read them. Then tally your score and see your rank! Remember to share!

Score of 10: Pope! You might know as much about the current pope as he knows about himself. Great going!
Score of 9: Cardinal - You know enough that you've got what it takes.
Score of 8: Archbishop - Very commendable.
Score of 7: Bishop - You know more than average, good going.
Score of 5-6: Priest - You know what most people know. See if you can learn more.
Score of 3-4: Novice - You've got some studying to do.
Score of 1-2: Layperson - You have more to learn, but you can do it!

Answers:

Question I: (d) Josef Alois Ratzinger
Question II:  (a) Ratzinger's father was a police officer.
Question III:  (b) As a youth, Ratzinger deserted his unit and returned home.
Question IV: (a) He entered the seminary with his brother Georg in November, 1945.
Question V: True. Ratzinger originally felt that a pope should listen to dissenting viewpoints before making a decision, and he downplayed the primacy of the papacy. However, he quickly developed more conservative views and by 1968 he became staunch in his traditionalist views.
Question VI: (b) Bishop of the Diocese of Munich. There is no such diocese within the Catholic Church.
Question VII: (b) False. Even before the passing of Pope John Paul II, Ratzinger had said he hoped to live out a quiet retirement. At one point, he asked John Paul II to assign him to work in the Vatican archives, which was denied. Benedict said he prayed to God saying, "Please don't do this to me."
Question VIII: (d) @Pontifex
Question IX: (d) 9! St. Pontian in 235, St. Marcellinus in 304, Liberius in 366, Benedict V in 964, John XVIII in 1009, Benedict IX in 1048, Gregory VI in 1046, St. Celestine V in 1294, and Gregory XII in 1415. Note that several early popes resigned because of Roman Imperial persecution and some of the entries are disputed, however each person listed above departed office for a reason other than death. For the purposes of this quiz, the answer is 9. Some papal scholars may dispute the claim. Feel free to count the point anyway if you feel strongly about your answer.
Question X: (c) Pontiff emeritus

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