“The Cross is the approbation of our existence, not in words, but in an act so completely radical that it caused God to become flesh and pierced this flesh to the quick; that, to God, it was worth the death of his incarnate Son.”

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.