Facts on the Holy Father

As Pope Benedict XVI prepares for his U.S. trip, get to know the man behind the title

A few of the pope's favorite things

Pope Benedict is a cat person. His cat, Chico, has been adopted by a friend in Germany.

When he dines on traditional Bavarian cuisine -- weisswurst, roast pork, and sauerkraut -- the pope likes a glass of weissbier. Otherwise his favorite beverage is Orange Fanta.

Pope Benedict has a sweet tooth -- he particularly enjoys traditional Bavarian Christmas cookies and chocolates from the city of Aachen.

As cardinal, his favorite restaurant was Da Armando on the Via Plauto, a short walk from St. Peter's Square. The restaurant is not easy to find, but it's worth the search.

The pope plays the piano and is especially fond of playing Bach and Mozart. According to Father Georg Ratzinger, the pope's brother, the Holy Father's favorite pieces of music are Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and Clarinet Concerto.

Pope Benedict's favorite Marian shrine is Altstting, in the Bavarian village of the same name. He grew up only 15 miles from the place, and made his first trip there with his family when he was 7. In 1980, he welcomed Pope John Paul II to the shrine. And only four months before his election to the papacy he made another pilgrimage to Altstting. In the course of his life, he has prayed at the shrine dozens of times.

20,000 - Approximate number of books in Pope Benedict's personal library

1927 - Year in which Joseph Ratzinger was born

563 - Number of holy people beatified by Pope Benedict

264 - Number of pontiffs who preceded Pope Benedict beginning with St. Peter

14 - Number of saints canonized during his pontificate

7 - Number of trips Pope Benedict has taken outside Italy as pontiff

2 - Number of encyclicals Pope Benedict has released so far

Coat of arms

Golden scallop shell

This recalls Pope Benedict XVI's admiration of St. Augustine, who, according to legend, met a child on the beach who was trying to scoop up the sea into a hole in the sand. When St. Augustine asked him what he was doing, the child explained his vain attempt and Augustine took it to refer to his own futile attempt to encompass the infinity of God within the confines of the limited human mind. The scallop shell also symbolizes pilgrims.

Moor's head

This emblem of the Diocese of Freising is common in the tradition of Bavaria, Pope Benedict's home state in Germany.

Brown bear

According to legend, when St. Corbinian, the first bishop and patron saint of the Diocese of Freising, was on his way to Rome, a bear attacked and killed his horse. The saint tamed the bear and then made him carry his belongings the rest of the way to Rome.

The keys

It has long been tradition for the supreme pontiff to surround his shield with crossed keys. They are a symbol of the power that Christ gave to the first pope, St. Peter, and his apostolic successors.

Mitre

The simple mitre has three bands of gold to represent the powers of Orders, Jurisdiction and Magisterium.

Pallium

Unique to Pope Benedict XVI's coat of arms is the pallium, which stands for the pope's responsibility of the flock entrusted to him by Christ.

U.S. Visit Itinerary

10:30 a.m. April 16 -Meeting with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the White House

5:45 p.m. April 16 - Prayer meeting with U.S. bishops at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

10 a.m. April 17 -Mass at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

5 p.m. April 17-Address to Catholic educators at The Catholic University of America

6:30 p.m. April 17 - Prayer service with leaders of other faiths at Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

10:45 a.m. April 18 -Address to the United Nations

9:15 a.m. April 19 -Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York

4:30 p.m. April 19 -Meeting with young Catholics at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y.

9:30 a.m. April 20 -Visit to Ground Zero

2:30 p.m. April 20 -Mass at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx

Prayer for the Holy Father

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to Your shepherd, Pope Benedict, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love.

By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build Your Church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Add your own prayers for the pope's visit at www.osv.com/papalvisit

Keeping up with the pope

Our Sunday Visitor's Papal Trip 2008 website: OSV will provide start-to-finish coverage of the historic papal visit with on-the-scene stories, news analysis, pictures, blogs and more. While visiting the site, be sure to add a prayer to our web of prayers for Pope Benedict's safe and fruitful visit to the United States. www.osv.com/papalvisit.

EWTN: The Eternal Word Television Network will have continuous coverage of the pope's U.S. visit. For more information, see www.ewtn.com.

Relevant Radio: The network of 23 affiliate stations and 16 owned stations will provide live coverage of the pope's trip most of the time. See www.relevantradio.com.

Pope Benedict XVI's titles

Bishop of Rome

Vicar of Jesus Christ

Successor of the Prince of the Apostles

Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church

Patriarch of the West

Primate of Italy

Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province

Sovereign of Vatican City State

Servant of the Servants of God

What is the pope wearing?

Camauro: For centuries the popes have worn a cap of red wool or velvet lined with ermine to ward off the winter chill. Pope John XXIII was the last pope to sport a camauro, but in December 2005 Benedict appeared at a papal audience wearing the traditional headgear.

Zucchetto: The skull cap, or "beanie," was developed in the Middle Ages when every cleric was required to shave the crown of his head. The zucchetto kept the wearer warm in unheated stone churches. Over time the zucchetto was created in various colors to reflect clerical rank. Cardinals wear red. Patriarchs, archbishops and bishops wear a shade of violet. The pope wears a white zucchetto because white has been the papal color since the election of St. Pius V in 1566 -- he was a Dominican who continued to wear his white habit as pope.

Pallium: Since at least 336, the pope, primates and archbishops have worn the pallium. The modern style is a stiff band of white wool, 2 inches wide, embroidered with six black crosses, which drapes over the shoulders and chest, and has two pendants that hang down front and back. Just as the stole represents that a priest or deacon is exercising his sacramental office, the pallium represents the spiritual authority of the pope or archbishop. Pope Benedict XVI has revived the pallium worn in the early centuries of the Church: it is embroidered with five red crosses that symbolize the five Holy Wounds of Christ, and is attached to the pope's chasuble by three pins that recall the three nails, driven through Our Lord's hands and feet.

Red Shoes: The pope's red shoes are a holdover from the era when the pope wore scarlet rather than white. His robes are white, but his accessories are still red.

-- Thomas J. Craughwell