Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI
Right · Faith leader · From history

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope, 2005 to 2013

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The German theologian who became pope stressed tradition and doctrine, warned against relativism and, in 2013, became the first pope in centuries to resign.

Pope Benedict XVI sits in the right-authoritarian part of the Caucus economy and liberty compass: centered on economy and leaning authoritarian. The clearest positions are strongly traditional on culture, strongly religious on religion and strongly institutional on institutions. The profile is close to the middle on economy and interventionism.

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Where Pope Benedict XVI sits on ten dimensions

Each scale runs from one pole to the other, and the dot shows the overall tendency of this person's record and public life. These are simplified estimates and open to debate.

💰EconomyCentered on economy
State-ledFree market
⚖️Liberty and authorityLeaning authoritarian
LibertarianAuthoritarian
🎭CultureStrongly traditional
ProgressiveTraditional
🌍NationSlightly globalist
GlobalistNationalist
🌱EnvironmentLeaning nature-first
Growth-firstNature-first
🤖TechnologyLeaning tech-cautious
Tech-cautiousTech-optimist
🕊️War and peaceLeaning peace-first
Peace-firstStrength-first
🏛️InstitutionsStrongly institutional
Anti-establishmentInstitutional
🙏ReligionStrongly religious
SecularReligious
🛡️InterventionismCentered on interventionism
Non-interventionistInterventionist

People most like Pope Benedict XVI

Pope John Paul II Pope, 1978 to 200599%Thomas Aquinas Italian theologian and philosopher, 1225 to 127499%Confucius Philosopher and teacher, 551 to 479 BCE97%Pope Leo XIV Pope and sovereign of Vatican City, 2025 to present96%Russell Kirk American conservative thinker, 1918 to 199495%Fatafehi Fakafānua Prime Minister of Tonga, 2025 to present95%Mother Teresa Catholic nun and missionary, 1910 to 199794%Thomas More English statesman and author of Utopia, 1478 to 153594%

People furthest from Pope Benedict XVI

Emma Goldman Russian-born anarchist and writer, 1869 to 19402%Ayn Rand Russian-American novelist and philosopher, 1905 to 19823%Mikhail Bakunin Russian revolutionary and anarchist, 1814 to 18763%Leon Trotsky Soviet revolutionary and founder of the Red Army4%

Political views closest to Pope Benedict XVI

Christian democracyBlends Christian social teaching, a social market economy and European cooperation.97%IntegralismA Catholic view that political authority should serve the Church's spiritual aims.95%Social conservatismDefends the traditional family, religion and moral norms in law and society.92%One-nation conservatismA paternalist conservatism holding that the better off owe duties to the poor and to…91%

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Biographies of Pope Benedict XVIBooks on christian democracy

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Percentages show how close two profiles are across all ten dimensions. Including a person here is for study and comparison, not approval. Portrait: Kancelaria Prezydenta RP, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons; see all photo credits.