The election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as new Pope Benedict XVI has lead to a great sense of pleasure and delight not least in Altoetting.

Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl at the river Inn, not far from Altoetting and is known – as his predecessor Johannes Paul II. – as an admirer of Marian Shrines. Since his childhood, he often prayed to our Lady of Altoetting in the Chapel of Grace.

During his incumbency as head of the congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, several official occasions lead him to the Bavarian Shrine. Among them were the anniversary “500 years of Marian pilgrimages to Altoetting” (1989) where he celebrated the festive opening Mass in the St. Anna Basilica, his presence as special preacher during the 400th anniversary of the “Marianische Männerkongregation” (association of Men, devoted to the Madonna) of Altoetting in 1999, as well as his presence in 2001, where he accompanied the yearly foot pilgrimage from Regensburg to Altoettting with 10000 participants, on the last hop of their way. As recorded in a chronic, he held “an adorable sermon” during the following festive mass.

As several other high church officials, Cardinal Ratzinger regularly visited the Chapel of Grace in Altoetting, often also incognito, such as in the year of his 75th birthday.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who moved to Rome long time ago, went on a pilgrimage to Altoetting in 2002, together with his brother Georg Ratzinger and the Archbishop of Salzburg, Georg Eder.

Now the population of Altoetting is hoping for a first official visit of the newly elected pope in the near future to this beautifully located Shrine between Munich and Salzburg.