Claim: Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany in 1927, was a member of the Hitler Youth. Rating: About this rating True Context When Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) turned 14 in 1941 in Germany, he was legally required to join the Hitler Youth. Hitler Youth was an organization set up by Adolf Hitler in 1933 for educating and training male youths in Nazi principles. At the same time a distinction was introduced between the Compulsory Hitler Youth and the Regular Hitler Youth. The caption of one social media post read, "Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Hitler Youth, c.

Source: Washington Post July 25, 2023 18:20 UTC