With reference to Pope Benedict XVI, who died recently, which of the following statement/s is/are correct? 1. He was a native of Germany. 2. He was the first Pope to resign in 600 years. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a)Only 2
- (b)Neither 1 nor 2
- (c)Only 1
- (d)Both 1 and 2
Correct — D, Both 1 and 2. Statement 1 is correct: Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Ratzinger in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany, in 1927 — the first German pope in centuries. Statement 2 is correct: when he stepped down in February 2013 he became the first pope to resign in almost 600 years (the previous voluntary resignation was Gregory XII in 1415), which is why it is commonly stated as 'first in 600 years'. He died on 31 December 2022, the event the question refers to.
- (a)Only 2 — Understates the answer — statement 1 (he was a native of Germany) is also correct, so 'Only 2' is incomplete.
- (b)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are in fact correct, so rejecting both is wrong.
- (c)Only 1 — Understates the answer — statement 2 (first pope to resign in ~600 years) is also correct, so 'Only 1' is incomplete.
Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger, 1927-2022) led the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. His resignation was historic because popes almost always serve for life; he cited declining strength of mind and body. His death on 31 December 2022 made him a prominent current-affairs figure for the 2023 exam cycle.
This is a two-statement current-affairs item. Both facts about Benedict XVI were widely reported at his death — his German (Bavarian) origin and his rare papal resignation — so recognising that BOTH are true leads to option D. The trap is to remember only one of the two well-known facts and settle for 'Only 1' or 'Only 2'.
- Born Joseph Ratzinger in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany (1927) — a native of Germany.
- Resigned in February 2013 — first papal resignation since Gregory XII in 1415 (~600 years).
- After resigning he took the title 'Pope Emeritus' and lived in the Vatican.
- Died on 31 December 2022, the recent event referenced by the question.
- Recalling only the German origin OR only the resignation and choosing 'Only 1'/'Only 2'.
- Confusing Benedict XVI (resigned) with Pope Francis (his successor, elected 2013).
UPPSC/UPSC test 'person in the news' by pairing two biographical facts and asking which are correct — lock both the nationality and the 'first to resign in ~600 years' hook.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who succeeded Pope Benedict XVI as head of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013?
- (a)Pope John Paul II
- (b)Pope Francis
- (c)Pope John XXIII
- (d)Pope Paul VI
Answer(b) Pope Francis — the first pope from the Americas (Argentina), elected in March 2013.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, resides in which of the following?
- (a)Vatican City
- (b)Geneva
- (c)Jerusalem
- (d)Lisbon
Answer(a) Vatican City — an independent city-state within Rome, Italy.