The 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church was an outstanding intellectual. He had 9 doctorates. He wrote over 160 books. He spoke, wrote, and read 10 languages ​​fluently including French, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and his native German. Benedict XVI, considered the greatest theologian of the 20th century and known as the Pope of faith, was named bishop and raised to the rank of archbishop on the same day.

Three months later, he was created cardinal. Until this day, he was the only cardinal to have participated in three conclaves including August 1978, October 1978, and April 2005. Until December 31, 2022, he was the last living cardinal appointed by Paul VI, on June 27, 1977. He is also the only cardinal to have spent 24 years at the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022. He is then 95 years and 259 days old. This makes him the longest-lived pope, although he resigned at the age of 85 years and 300 days.