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Father Georg Ratzinger
Father Georg Ratzinger & Cardinal Joseph RatzingerFather Georg Ratzinger & Pope Benedict XVI

Georg Ratzinger was born January 15, 1924.  He is the brother of Pope Benedict XVI.  They were ordained together, and he, like the Pope, is a musician who is known for his work as a conductor of the cathedral choir of Regensburg, Germany.

Ratzinger was born in Bavaria to Joseph Ratiznger, a police officer, and Maria Ratzinger.  His younger brother, Joseph, of course, later reigned as Pope Benedict XVI, from 2005 to 2013.  He has a sister, Maria.

Early in his life he showed musical talent, playing the church organ at 11.   In 1935 he entered seminary and continued to have professional musical instruction.  Eventually he directed the cathedral choir and they performed in Salzburg on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mozart’s death.

Father Georg Ratzinger: Ordination Holy Card

Commentary on the Memorabilia from the Ordinations of Georg and Joseph Ratzinger:

The Ordination of Father Georg Ratzinger:  

This item is actually a holy card that Georg Ratzinger, brother to Pope Benedict XVI,  had printed for his ordination. Nearly all priests have their own cards printed to commemorate ordination, the most important event of a priest’s life. And this one was printed for Father  Georg  Ratzinger  and is nearly identical to the one his brother had printed.   It’s a great item to have because it dates back to the very beginning of the ministry of the man who was our Holy Father from 2005 until his resignation in 2012.  And what is of  greatest interest is the fact that both brothers signed these holy cards at the time of their ordinations.  They are very nice additions to this Collection.

There are reasons that priests have ordination cards with general information on them. The first purpose, of course, is to commemorate the event. Also, priests give them as gifts in thank you cards, and also, they are given for people to remember that date.

Lots of times, on one side, there will be a holy picture, as is Joseph Ratzinger’s, which is an image of the Madonna and Child. Sometimes, priests choose a saint, or an image of Christ or a saint for whom the priest has a particular affection. Oftentimes a favorite scripture quote is used, and the date and location of ordination is also included.

Georg  has a picture of himself, too. The picture is rather unique in that most guys don’t have a photo on their cards. This makes it more interesting, I think, because you can see a very young priest, who not only has served our Church for over 60 years, but also has a brother who became our Holy Father. —Father Richard Kunst

Father Georg Ratzinger  was ordained on June 29, 1951.

Translation of Father Georg Ratzinger’s Ordination Card:

Of the holy days of my ordination
as  a priest and my “Primiz” (first mass in the home parish)
Freising Traunstein
29th June   &   1951 8th July
Georg Ratzinger
The Gospel of Saint John, Chapter 17, Verse 18:

Consecrate them in the truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.

 We are grateful to Elfriede Klar of Esch, Germany, for her assistance in the translation of this ordination card.

 

The item is a signed copy of Georg Ratzinger’s biography of Pope Benedict XVI: My Brother, the Pope.

Further Information about Georg Ratzinger

The war and Nazism interfered with this period of his life.  He was drafted into a branch of the German army but was wounded in 1944 in a battle in Italy.  At the end of WW II he was a POW of the U. S.  When released, he arrived home in July of 1945.

In January of 1946, he and his brother Joseph entered the seminary for the archdiocese of Munich and Freising to study for the priesthood.  He continued his musical studies.  The two brothers were ordained in 1951.  Afterwards, Georg studied church music in Munich while serving in different priestly functions for the diocese.

Those studies were completed in 1957,  and he became the choir director in his home parish in Traunstein.  Many musical awards were to follow this appointment, including conducting for his brother’s consecration as Archbishop of Munich and Freising.  His choir sang in honor of Queen Elizabeth II at her state visit in 1978, and at Pope John Paul II’s visit to Munich in 1980.

He is, to say the least, an accomplished musician and director.

In 2011 Georg Ratzinger celebrated sixty years as a priest and was interviewed on this topic.  He said, “My brother was the second to youngest, though there were some who were older.”  He noted, “I have the stole and cassock from that day.”

He celebrated his 90th birthday on January 15, 2014 with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.

Papal Artifacts is honored to include Georg Ratzinger in our Notable Individuals’ segment.