Wohnhaus Papst Benedikt XVI.

About the museum

From 1970 to 1977 the house at Bergstraße 6 in Pentling near Regensburg was the private residence of Joseph Ratzinger, then a professor at the University of Regensburg. He chose the building plot and the architect himself and designed the house, built in 1969/1970, according to his own ideas. His brother Georg, cathedral music director of the Regensburger Domspatzen, and his sister Maria lived there with him. Even as archbishop, cardinal and later pope, he kept returning and last visited the house in June 2020.

In 2010 he transferred the property to the Stiftung Papst Benedikt XVI.; the use of the house lies with the Institut Papst Benedikt XVI. After a renovation it was opened in 2012 as a place of encounter and documentation. On the ground floor, a small exhibition presents stages of Ratzinger's life, including a digital guestbook for the years 1970 to 1977 that can be leafed through, the reconstructed kitchen, and the room of his brother Georg with original scores. The study is furnished largely with reconstructed furniture and a library as it stood in 1977. The desk is an exact copy of the original, at which all the important theological works were written. The archive rooms of the institute are in the basement.

Highlights

• Study with a library as it stood in 1977
• Copy of the desk at which Ratzinger's major works were written
• Digital guestbook for the years 1970 to 1977
• Room of Georg Ratzinger with original scores
• House blessing "C+M+B" in Ratzinger's handwriting on the doors

Permanent exhibition

• Das Wohnhaus Joseph Ratzingers – Small exhibition on stages of Joseph Ratzinger's life in his private home, with his study, library, digital guestbook and the room of his brother Georg.

Operated by

Stiftung Papst Benedikt XVI. / Institut Papst Benedikt XVI.

Admission & discounts

A contribution toward costs is charged for the tour, paid by bank transfer to the Stiftung Papst Benedikt XVI. (account details are on the institute's website).

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