Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

== Personal life ==
[[File:Benoît XVI synode 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Benedict at the [[Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church|Synod of Bishops]] in Rome, 2008]]

=== Interest in classical music ===
Benedict was known to be deeply interested in classical music,<ref name="Willey">{{cite news |last=Willey |first=David |date=13 May 2005 |title=Pope Benedict's creature comforts |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4539613.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324142503/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4539613.stm |archive-date=24 March 2011 |access-date=2 February 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and was an accomplished pianist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931189.html |title=Benedict XVI |publisher=Infoplease.com |access-date=14 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820192202/http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931189.html |archive-date=20 August 2011 }}</ref> His favourite composer was [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], of whose music he said: "His music is by no means just entertainment; it contains the whole tragedy of human existence."<ref name="MozartNCR">{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_38_42/ai_n26705248 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090628130953/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_38_42/ai_n26705248 |archive-date=28 June 2009 |title=Mozart: Catholic, Master Mason, favorite of the pope, ''National Catholic Reporter'' |via=Find Articles |access-date=6 May 2009 | first1=John L. | last1=Allen | year=2006}}</ref> Benedict also stated that Mozart's music affected him greatly as a young man and "deeply penetrated his soul".<ref name="MozartNCR" /> Benedict's favourite works of music were Mozart's [[Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)|Clarinet Concerto]] and [[Clarinet Quintet (Mozart)|Clarinet Quintet]].<ref name="Mark Freer (2006)">Freer, Mark [http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0275.htm Pope Benedict XVI, Mozart and the Quest of Beauty], Catholic Education Research Center. Retrieved 19 October 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110926225907/http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0275.htm WebCitation archive]</ref> Benedict also enjoyed Bach, particularly ''[[Mass in B Minor]]'' and ''[[St Matthew Passion]].''<ref name="Chantal Lafortune (2023)">Lafortune, Chantal [http://www.missiodeicatholic.org/p/the-pope-who-loved-mozart-in-memory.htm The Pope Who Loved Mozart: In Loving Memory of Pope Benedict XVI], Missio Dei. Retrieved 26 April 2025. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109214217/https://www.missiodeicatholic.org/p/the-pope-who-loved-mozart-in-memory.htm WebCitation archive]</ref> He recorded [[Alma Mater (Pope Benedict XVI album)|an album]] of contemporary classical music in which he sings and recites prayers to the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32234570|title=Pope rock: Benedict sings on album – World news – Europe – The Vatican |date=31 July 2009 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref> The album was set for release on 30&nbsp;November 2009.

=== Cats ===
Benedict was also known to be fond of cats.<ref name="Willey" /> As Cardinal Ratzinger, he was known (according to former neighbours) to look after [[Feral cat|stray cats]] in his neighbourhood, [[Borgo (rione of Rome)|Borgo]]. A book called ''Joseph and Chico: A Cat Recounts the Life of Pope Benedict XVI'' was published in 2007 which told the story of the Pope's life from the feline Chico's perspective. This story was inspired by an orange tabby Pentling cat, which belonged to the family next door.<ref>Simpson, Victor L. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008052211_apaustraliapopebenedictandbella.html "Did the Aussies give the pope a cat for company?"]{{dead link|date=March 2024|bot=medic}}''[[The Seattle Times]]'' 15 July 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022002605/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008052211_apaustraliapopebenedictandbella.html WebCitation archive]</ref> During his trip to Australia for World Youth Day in 2008, the media reported that festival organizers lent the Pope a grey cat called Bella<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=259135&highlight=&sid=09c92dc6a27d356734249399ec8488ea |title=Angelqueen.org :: View topic – Pope's smitten with a kitten |date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720013027/http://www.angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=259135&highlight=&sid=09c92dc6a27d356734249399ec8488ea |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> to keep him company during his stay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCVZy8nzclwYUHEVtFpVM7LOLY8w |title=Pope rests with piano and cat ahead of World Youth Day |work=Google News |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426041329/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCVZy8nzclwYUHEVtFpVM7LOLY8w |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>

=== Social network use ===
In December 2012, the Vatican announced that Benedict{{nbsp}}XVI had joined social networking website Twitter, under the handle @Pontifex.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Pope-Benedict-XVI-joins-Twitter/tabid/412/articleID/279065/Default.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= Pope Benedict XVI joins Twitter| date= 4 December 2012| access-date= 3 December 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130405130803/http://www.3news.co.nz/Pope-Benedict-XVI-joins-Twitter/tabid/412/articleID/279065/Default.aspx| archive-date= 5 April 2013| df= dmy-all}}</ref> His first tweet was made on 12 December and was "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."<ref>{{cite news |title=Pope tweets a blessing from his new personal account|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/12/pope-tweets-benedict-twitter/1762819/?csp=breakingnews|work=USA Today|access-date=12 December 2012|date=12 December 2012}}</ref> On 28 February 2013, the day he retired, the tweets were archived, and @Pontifex read "[[Sede Vacante]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Pope Benedict XVI's final day: Live Report |url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/afp/pope-benedict-xvis-final-day-live-report/574646 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411224348/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/afp/pope-benedict-xvis-final-day-live-report/574646 |archive-date=11 April 2013 |work=Jakarta Globe |access-date=28 February 2013 }}</ref> Pope Francis took control of the @Pontifex account upon his election.<ref>Ngak, Chenda. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vatican-sends-first-tweet-under-pope-francis/ Vatican sends first tweet under Pope Francis] CBS News. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.</ref>