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[[Image:BenedictXVI.jpg|thumb|Pope Benedict XVI]]
'''Benedict XVI''' (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI), born '''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', is the 265th and current [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and by virtue of that office, [[w:Sovereign|Sovereign]] of the [[w:Vatican|Vatican City State]]. He was elected on [[April 19]], 2005 in a [[papal conclave]], celebrated his Papal Inauguration [[Mass]] on [[April 24]], 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the [[Basilica of St. John Lateran]], on [[May 7]], 2005. Pope Benedict has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded [[John Paul II]], who died at the beginning of April 2005.
==Orthodox response to Pope Benedict's actions and statements=====Dialogue with Christian religionsPrimacy of Peter=== Speaking at his weekly audience in St Peter's Square on [[June 7]], 2006, Pope Benedict asserted that Jesus himself had entrusted the leadership of the Church to his apostle [[Apostle Peter|Peter]]. "Peter's responsibility thus consists of guaranteeing the communion with Christ," said Pope Benedict. "Let us pray so that the primacy of Peter, entrusted to poor human beings, may always be exercised in this original sense desired by the Lord, so that it will be increasingly recognised in its true meaning by brothers who are still not in communion with us." The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Pope has a leading role among Christians because as [[bishop]] of Rome he is successor to the apostle Peter who first held the office. The role of the Roman Catholic papacy remains a source of controversy, not only for [[Protestant]] denominations but also for [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches and members of the [[Restorationism]] movement, which does not accept the dogmas of the [[First Vatican Council]].
===Patriarch of the West===
The bishops of the Ecumenical Orthodox [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] have expressed concern over Pope Benedict XVI's decision to drop "patriarch of the West" from his official titles in the Vatican yearbook. In a [[June 8]], 2006 statement, the chief secretary of the Orthodox bishops' [[synod]] said dropping "patriarch of the West" while retaining the titles "vicar of Jesus Christ" and "supreme pontiff of the universal church" is "perceived as implying a universal jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome over the entire church, which is something the Orthodox have never accepted." The statement was issued after synod members discussed the change during their early June meeting. [[w:Cardinal|Cardinal]] [[w:Walter Kasper|Walter Kasper]], president of the [[Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]], said in a March statement that dropping the title of patriarch in reference to the pope does not minimize the importance of the patriarchal office, particularly in relation to the ancient Eastern churches. "Even less can this suppression be seen as implying new claims" of power or authority on the part of the Vatican, he said. However, members of the Orthodox synod disagreed. From their point of view, "the geographical limits of each ecclesiastical jurisdiction" have been a key part of the structure of the church from the earliest days of Christianity. The church as a whole is "a unity of full local churches" and not a monolith divided into local units simply for the sake of easier governance. The Orthodox synod's statement said that, with the international Catholic-Orthodox theological dialogue set to begin again in September with plans to deal with the "thorny problem" of papal primacy, it would have been better not to have dropped the title without consultation.
===Visit to Ukraine===A leading [[Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox]] spokesman has said that a visit to Ukraine by Pope Benedict XVI would be "untimely," according to the country's RISU news service. "If Pope Benedict is a moral and a spiritual person and wants only good for Ukraine and its people, he will never take such an unreasonable step," said Valentyn Lukianyk, the head of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods of [[Ukraine]]. He was responding to the news that Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yushchenko]] has invited the Pope to visit the country. There have been numerous clashes between Orthodox and Catholic believers over the ownership of [[parish]] properties that were confiscated by the Communists and handed over to Orthodox clerics. At the same time, Orthodox leaders have complained that Catholics are engaged in "proselytism," seeking converts among Orthodox believers. In his statement opposing a papal visit, Lukianyk said that relations between Catholics and Orthodox in Ukraine are now "warming." A visit by Pope Benedict, he said, would place an undue burden on those sensitive ties. Catholics believe there is biblical, and historical evidence of the Bishop of Rome's primacy. In scripture they cite the following: *You are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church (Mat 16:18) *Next to Jesus, Peter is mentioned more than any other apostle in Scripture (152 times). *He stood up and spoke on behalf of the apostles to lead in their replacement of Judas.(Mt 19:27, Acts 1:15, 2:14) *He stood up to lead the apostles at the birth of the Church at the Pentecost (Acts 2:14) *The disciples were referred to as Peter and the Apostles. (Acts 2:37, 5:29) *Peter was given the authority to forgive sins before the rest of the apostles. (Mat 16:18) *He was always named first when the apostles were listed (Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13) -- sometimes it was only "Peter and those who were with him" (Luke 9:32); *John ran ahead of Peter to the tomb but upon arriving he stopped and did not go in. He waited and let Peter go in. (Jn 20:4) *Jesus told Peter to "feed my lambs...tend my sheep... feed my sheep." (Jn 21:15-17) The difference between a sheep and a lamb might be significant. A lamb is a baby, a sheep is an adult. Perhaps Jesus was asking Peter to take care of both the general people (the lambs), and the apostles (sheep). Regardless of that interpretation of sheep and lambs, it is clear Jesus is asking Peter to feed and tend his flock. That is what a shepherd does. It appears to me that he is asking Peter to shepherd his Church on earth, on his behalf. Among the Eastern Early Church Fathers they cite: *Tatian the Syrian (170 A.D.): "Simon Kephas answered and said, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah: flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee also, that you are Rock, and on this Rock will I build my Church; and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it" (The Diatesseron 23 [A.D. 170]). *Tertullian (220 A.D.):"Was anything hid from Peter, who was called the Rock, whereon the Church was built; who obtained the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the power of loosing and of binding in heaven and on earth?" (Tertullian, De Praescript Haeret).
==Further reading=='''Roman Catholic'''*StFr. John ChrysostomNicola Bux. ''[http: "//www.ignatius.com/Products/BR-P/benedict-xvis-reform.aspx?=cwr Benedict XVI's Reform: The Liturgy Between Innovation and when I name Peter, I name that unbroken Rock, that firm foundation, the Great Apostle, the First of the disciples ..." (Chrysostom, TTradition]. ii. Hom. iii. de Paednit). …and …. "Peter, the leader of the choir, that Mouth of the rest of the Apostles'' Ignatius Press, that Head of the brotherhood, that one set over the entire universe, that Foundation of the Church." (Chrysostom, In illud. hoc Scitote). and …. "Peter, ... that Pillar of the Church, the Buttress of the Faith, the Foundation of the Confession." (Chrysostom, T. iii. Hom. de Dec2012. Mill144 pp. Talent) ISBN 9781586174460
==External links==
*''[http://wwwgroups.eniyahoo.chcom/articlesgroup/display.shtmlIrenikon/message/5885?06-0459 o=1&var=1 Benedict's call on papacy will increase divisions, says Italian Protestant].'' Ecumenical News International (ENI). June 8, 2006.*Cindy Wooden. ''[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603382.htm Orthodox express concern about dropping 'patriarch of the West' title].'' Catholic News Service (CNS). June 13, 2006.*''[http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=44743 Ukrainian Orthodox spokesman opposes papal visit].'' CatholicCulture.org. June 13, 2006.*[http://wwwFr.davidmacdNicola Bux.com/catholic/orthodox/pope_bishop_of_rome_primacy.htm Discussion of Bishop of Rome's primacy]*'[http://www.davidmacdcatholicworldreport.com/catholicItem/orthodox2057/pope_acts_15_james_and_peterthe_martyrdom_of_pope_benedict_xvi.htm Discussion aspx The “Martyrdom” of James and Peter in Acts 15Pope Benedict XVI]*[http://www.2Lungs'' The Catholic World Report.org wwwMarch 10, 2013.2Lungs:<small>(Don Nicola Bux, one of Benedict’s close collaborators, on the deeper meaning of the papal resignation.org]A discussion of unity issues between Catholics and Orthodox)</small>
before=[[John Paul II]]|
title=[[Pope|Roman Catholic Pope]]|
years=2005-present2013|after=—Francis I}}
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[[Category:Roman Catholic Popes]]
[[Category:Non-Orthodox]]
[[es:Benedicto XVI]]
