Text

Josef Ratzinger was ordained a priest on 29 June 1951. He obtained a doctorate in theology, then held university positions and served as a peritus (an expert) during Vatican II. Father Ratzinger was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising on 28 May 1977. Pope Paul VI elevated Archbishop Ratzinger to the rank of Cardinal in the consistory of 27 June 1977. In November 1981, Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Ratzinger as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He served as Archbishop of Munich and Freising until 1982. He was elected the 265th successor of St. Peter on 19 April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. 
The 60th anniversary of the priestly ordination and ecclesiastical events in the Holy Father's life are commemorated in four €0,75 stamps. The four stamps mark the event and each stamp bears an important associated symbol. Benedict's ordination symbol is a scallop shell. The shell is a symbol of pilgrims symbolizing the Pope's desire to be a pilgrim to the world. The shell is also associated with St. Augustine and the Monastery at Schotten near Regensberg, with which Josef Ratzinger has a close connection. The symbol of the brown bear is associated with the St. Corbinian (670-730), the first Bishop of Freising. While riding in a forest, a bear attacked Corbinian and his horse. St Corbinian tamed the bear who then carried his luggage to Rome. The bear is shown bearing a pack saddle interpreted as the burden of the episcopate. The Moor's head is a symbol of the Diocese of Munich and Freising. The symbol shows a Moor with a crown symbolizing a slave that is freed. All three symbols, the shell, the bear, and the Moor's head are incorporated into the papal coat of arms which appears on the stamp commemorating Bennedict XVI's election as pope.

Update A Postal Database Record