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Timeline: Pope Benedict XVI

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 10, 2008

April 19, 2005 - German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected to succeed Pope John Paul II as the 265th leader of the Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Benedict XVI.

May 14, 2005 - Benedict announces plans to put Pope John Paul II on the fast track to sainthood.

June 10, 2005 - The pope criticizes the use of condoms and says the church is leading the battle against HIV/AIDS by teaching chastity.

Nov. 29, 2005 - In his first major ruling, Benedict and the Vatican impose restrictions on homosexuals becoming priests.

Jan. 25, 2006 - Benedict releases his first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love).

May 28, 2006 - Benedict visits the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland as "a son of the German people."

Sept. 12, 2006 - Benedict quotes Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus to criticize fanaticism in Islam, sparking protests from Muslims.

Sept. 17, 2006 - The pope says he is "deeply sorry" his remarks offended Muslims and that the medieval quotes did not reflect his personal views.

Oct. 11, 2006 - Benedict eases restrictions on the use of the old Latin Mass.

Feb. 24, 2007 - Benedict condemns genetic engineering and other scientific practices that screen babies for defects.

April 11, 2007 - Benedict publishes a new book "Creation and Evolution" in which he claims Darwin's theory of evolution cannot be proved.

May 13, 2007 - In Brazil, Benedict says that colonial-era evangelization in the New World did not represent "the imposition of a foreign culture," angering Latinos across the Americas.

May 23, 2007 - Although he does not apologize, Benedict says it is impossible to ignore the dark "shadows" and "unjustified crimes" that accompanied evangelization in the New World.

Nov. 6, 2007 - Benedict becomes the first pope to meet with a reigning Saudi king, King Abdullah.

March 22, 2008 - Italy's most prominent Muslim commentator, Magdi Allam converts to Catholicism and is baptized by Benedict at an Easter vigil.

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