Who is Benedict XVI?

How well do you know the man who leads the world's 1.2 billion Catholics? Here's a test.

Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, is the leader of the Catholic Church and universal pastor of more than 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. He was elected on April 19, 2005, at the age of 78, making him the oldest pope elected in three centuries.

Why did he take the name Benedict?

He took it in honor of Pope Benedict XV, an advocate of peace during World War I, and St. Benedict of Nursia, who helped to resurrect civilization in Europe during the Dark Ages.

What did he do before he was elected?

He was head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and dean (or most senior member) of the College of Cardinals. Previously, he was archbishop of Munich , Germany.

Is it true he served in the German Army during World War II?

Like all German youths, the young Joseph Ratzinger was forced to enroll in the Hitler Youth at the age of 14. He did so under duress as he was already in the seminary. He never joined the Nazi Party. In 1943, the 16-year-old Joseph was drafted into the German Army and ordered into an anti-aircraft unit that protected a BMW factory making aircraft engines. Owing to an infected finger, however, he never learned how to fire a gun and spent his time in the unit with an unloaded gun. As he later noted in an interview with Time magazine, he may have been forced into the German Army, but he was never in combat and was never really a soldier. He later deserted and went home. At war's end, he was an American prisoner of war for five weeks.

How many languages does he speak?

Aside from his native German, Pope Benedict speaks Italian, French, English (with a soft Bavarian accent), Spanish, Dutch and Latin fluently. He also has some knowledge of Portuguese and can read Ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew.

What are the key themes of his pontificate?

The first and most important is to proclaim anew for the world the call to "a living relationship" with Jesus Christ.

To foster this encounter, he has labored to promote an authentic Catholic identity and unity and has reminded Catholics that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church, even if elements of truth can be found in separated churches and communities. He has also urged Catholics to remember the central place of the Eucharist in the life of the Church and has brought various reforms to the liturgy -- such as allowing the wider use of the Tridentine Mass -- to promote Catholic unity even further. He has also made Christian unity a priority and has reached out to other religions, in particular Islam, to foster respect for religious freedom and mutual understanding among the faiths of the world.

What has the pope said about the Iraq War?

As Cardinal Ratzinger, he was not in favor of the invasion of Iraq during the lead up to the Iraq War in 2003. As pope, he has expressed grave concerns about the future not only of Iraq but also the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Of particular dismay to the pope is the dire situation faced by the Christian population in Iraq in the years after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Is it true he brought back the old Latin Mass?

In July 2007, he declared that upon "the request of the faithful" priests could once more celebrate the Mass that preceded the liturgical reforms after the Second Vatican Council. The use of the Tridentine Mass was never juridically abrogated, and the purpose of the document was to underscore the continuity and timeless beauty of the Church's worship, to assist many Catholics who prefer the Tridentine Mass, and to invite back into the Catholic fold those groups who had left in protest over the reforms of the Mass after Vatican II. The change was not intended to remove the central place of the current Mass (called the Novus Ordo) in the life of the Church.

How do I contact the pope?

Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican City State, 00120

Or the papal e-mail address is benedictxvi@vatican.va.