Regensburg Archives

Does the Vatican need a Korean Air-style reboot?
- Sep 20, 2020
In 2006, a lecture by Pope Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg in Germany caused a global firestorm because of the way he chose to open it, quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor about Muhammad bringing “things only evil and inhuman.” Muslims took it as a slur, and in the ensuing protests churches were firebombed in the Gaza Strip and an Italian missionary nun was shot to death in Somalia.

By John L. Allen Jr.
Benedict XVI remembers brother as ‘man of God’
- Jul 9, 2020
In a letter read aloud at his brother’s funeral in Regensburg, retired pope Benedict XVI recalled several characteristics which he felt best described his eldest sibling, including a love of music, joy in adversity and a deep piety.

By Elise Ann Allen
Retired Pope Benedict follows his brother’s funeral virtually
- Jul 8, 2020
Retired Pope Benedict XVI followed the funeral of his brother, Georg Ratzinger, via live streaming.

By Catholic News Service

Retired pope visits former home, parents’ grave in Germany
- Jun 21, 2020
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI visited his former home near Regensburg, Germany, on Saturday, greeted old neighbors and prayed at his parents’ grave as part of a trip to his former haunts to be with his seriously ill 96-year-old brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger.

By David McHugh

Nun killed in backlash over Regensburg declared a martyr

Nov 9, 2017

Beyond that of Pope John Paul I, the “Smiling Pope,” other sainthood causes were also advanced this week by Pope Francis, including that of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, an Italian missionary nun shot to death in Somalia in 2006 along with her Muslim driver and bodyguard, Mohamed Osman Mahamud, in the backlash over Pope Benedict XVI’s famous Regensburg speech.

By Inés San Martín

Critic: German Catholicism is rich – but in the wrong ways

Aug 13, 2017

The editor of Catholic News Agency’s German edition wrote an opinion article for The Catholic Herald in the U.K. summarizing his view of what has gone wrong for the Catholic Church in his country of Germany. While it is a church rich in terms of money, it is losing members quickly, and those who stay aren’t going to Mass.

By Catholic News Agency