Josef Ratzinger was elected pope at the age of 78, making him the oldest person to have been

elected pope since Clement XII in 1730. Pope Benedict XVI is fluent in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. He is also fluent in Latin and can read ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. Pope Benedict XVI is a cat lover, owning two. One was a stray which he found in Rome. Because of his love of cats, one of the best selling tourist items in rome is a little cardinal hat for cats. Pope Benedict XVI has a pilots license he uses for the papal helicopter and likes to fly from the Vatican to the papal summer residence, However, he does not hold a driving license. Pope Benedict XVI was the youngest of three children. At the age of 16, Josef Ratzinger was drafted into the German army. In 1945, a young Josef Ratzinger deserted from the German army and was a United States prisoner of war. Pope Benedict XVIs favorite meal is Bavarian potato ravioli with pancake strips. In the year 2009, Pope Benedict XVI granted over two hundred private audiences, celebrated over fifty liturgies and met with over three hundred bishops. Pope Benedict XVI is said to be the first pope to own an iPod. Pope Benedict XVI has six email addresses. Each one begins with the name Benedict and belongs to a different language. Pope Benedict XVI is said to still own the stuffed animals that his mother made for him when he was just a child. His sister Maria was his housekeeper until she died at the age of 69. It is widely rumored he enjoys Orange Fanta. Pope Benedict XVI has approximately 20,000 books in his personal library. Benedict plays the piano and enjoys the music of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. Pope Benedict XVI is a strong advocate of organ donation, referring to the act as an act of love. He carries his donor card with him at all times.