Benedict XVI: His Life and Thought by Elio Guerriero ( published by Ignatius Press 2018: £28.50). Benedict XVI, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, elected to the office of Pope in 2005 was perhaps the most gifted theologian of modern times chosen to be the Bishop of Rome. This rewarding study of Pope Benedict and his belief that all peoples have a deep need for God and that the Western world needs to re-discover and re-engage with its Christian roots.