Georg Ratzinger, 96, the older brother of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who earned renown in his own right as a director of an acclaimed German boys' choir, died Wednesday in the Regensburg diocese in Bavaria, just over a week after Benedict made a four-day visit to Regensburg to be with his ailing brother. Ordained on the same day as his brother, Ratzinger proved to be a talented musician and went on to oversee the recording of numerous masterpieces and concert tours around the world by the Regensburger Domspatzen. But his reputation was tarnished as he apologized for using corporal punishment to discipline boys. He remained extremely close to his brother throughout his career, expressing dismay when Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope that they would no longer spend so much time together.
Published in The (Salem, Oregon) Statesman Journal on July 5, 2020.
Georg Ratzinger, 96, the older brother of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who earned renown in his own right as a director of an acclaimed German boys' choir, died Wednesday in the Regensburg diocese in Bavaria, just over a week after Benedict made a four-day visit to Regensburg to be with his ailing brother. Ordained on the same day as his brother, Ratzinger proved to be a talented musician and went on to oversee the recording of numerous masterpieces and concert tours around the world by the Regensburger Domspatzen. But his reputation was tarnished as he apologized for using corporal punishment to discipline boys. He remained extremely close to his brother throughout his career, expressing dismay when Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope that they would no longer spend so much time together.
Published in The (Salem, Oregon) Statesman Journal on July 5, 2020.