“In our heart, in the heart of each of you, let there be always the joyous certainty that the Lord is near, that he does not abandon us, that he is near to us, and that he surrounds us with his love.”

German Catholic theologian and pontiff of the 21st century, Benedict XVI served as Pope from 2005 to 2013. His papacy was marked by a deep engagement with tradition, a nuanced approach to modernity, and a focus on dialogue with other faiths. He was also a scholar and philosopher before his election, known for his work on early Christianity and the relationship between faith and reason.