German-born cleric, theologian, academic, and author (born 1927), né Joseph Alois Ratzinger, who was elected 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. Memorial booklet published upon the death of Bavarian Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauss, 20 pages, 4.75 x 8.25, 1988, signed in blue ink on the first page of his respective essay “Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.” The booklet has also been signed elsewhere by Cardinal Friedrich Wetter and Bishop Matthias Defregger. In very fine condition. R&R COA.