Pope Benedict XVI and A2 motorway (Romania): Difference between pages
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The construction of the '''A2''' romanian highway between [[Bucharest]] and [[Constanta|Constanţa]] began in the communist era during [[Nicolae Ceausescu|Nicolae Ceauşescu]]'s regime. |
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{{Infobox pope| |
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English name=Benedict XVI| |
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image=[[Image:Benedictvi.jpg|200px]]| |
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birth_name=Joseph Alois Ratzinger| |
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term_start=[[April 19]], [[2005]]| |
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term_end=[[Incumbent]]| |
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predecessor=[[Pope John Paul II]]| |
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successor=[[Incumbent]]| |
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birth_date=[[April 16]], [[1927]]| |
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birthplace=[[Marktl am Inn]], [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]| |
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dead=alive| |
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death_date=| |
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deathplace=| |
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}} |
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His Holiness '''Pope Benedict XVI''', officially in [[Latin]] ''Benedictus XVI'', born '''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''' (Latin: ''Iosephum Ratzinger'') ([[April 16]], [[1927]]), was elected [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] on [[April 19]], [[2005]]. As such, he is [[Bishop of Rome]], Sovereign of the [[Vatican City State]] and head of the Roman Catholic Church, including the [[Eastern Rite|Eastern Rite Church]]es in [[full communion|communion]] with the [[Holy See]]. He will be formally installed as pontiff during the [[Papal Installation|Mass of Papal Installation]] on [[April 24]], [[2005]]. |
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At 78 years old, he is the oldest pope elected since [[Pope Clement XII]] in [[1730]], and is the first German pope since [[Pope Adrian VI|Adrian VI]] (1522–1523) who was both German and Dutch because he lived in what is now [[the Netherlands]], which was a conglomerate of German provinces at the time of his papacy. Benedict is the 8th German pope in history; the first was [[Pope Gregory V|Gregory V]]. The last Benedict, [[Pope Benedict XV|Benedict XV]], served as pontiff from [[1914]] to [[1922]] and thus reigned during [[World War I]]. |
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The first section [[Fetesti|Feteşti]] - [[Cernavoda]] (about 23 km) opened in 1987. This section includes the complex system of bridges over the [[Dunare|Dunǎre]] ([[Danube]]) river at [[Cernavoda]]. |
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He was appointed [[prefect]] of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] in [[1981]], made a [[Cardinal Bishop]] of the [[episcopal see]] of Velletri-Segni in [[1993]], and was elected [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] in [[2002]], becoming [[titular bishop]] of [[Ostia]]. He was already one of the most influential men in the [[Vatican]] and a close associate of the late John Paul II before he became pope. He also presided over the [[Funeral of Pope John Paul II|funeral of John Paul II]] and the [[Papal conclave, 2005|Conclave]] in [[2005]] which elected him. During the most recent ''[[sede vacante]]'', he was the highest-ranking official in the Catholic Church. |
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Some see Benedict as a traditionalist, others as merely orthodox, but almost all observers agree that he is a staunch defender of Catholic doctrine. He is a critic of [[homosexuality]], [[same-sex marriage]], and [[abortion]] and has spoken about the unique role of the Catholic Church in salvation and has called all other Christian churches and ecclesial communities deficient. As a Cardinal, he wrote ''Truth and Tolerance,'' a book in which he denounces the use of tolerance as an excuse to distort the truth. Benedict also participated as a priest in the [[Second Vatican Council]] and has continued to defend the council, including ''[[Nostra Aetate]],'' the document on respect of other religions and the declaration of the right to religious freedom. He was viewed during the time of the council as a liberal. As the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Benedict most clearly spelled out the Catholic Church's position on other religions in the document ''[[Dominus Iesus]]'' which also talks about the proper way to engage in ''ecumenical dialogue''. |
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After the fall of the communism in [[1989]] the construction continued for a short period, but it was finally stopped in 1993 due to lack of financial ressources. The construction continued after 1998 and the highway is to be completed by 2007. |
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== Early life and works== |
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Ratzinger was born in [[Marktl am Inn]], in [[Bavaria]], the son of a [[police]] officer and jewish mother. In [[1937]] Ratzinger's father retired and settled in the town of [[Traunstein]]. When Ratzinger turned 14 in [[1941]], he joined the [[Hitler Youth]], as was required of all Germans of that age by a [[1938]] law. According to [[National Catholic Reporter]] correspondent and biographer John Allen, Ratzinger was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend any meetings. In [[1943]], at the age of 16, he and the rest of his class were drafted into the ''[[Flak]]'' or anti-aircraft corps, responsible for guarding a [[BMW]] plant outside Munich. This plant manufactured aircraft engines and used slave labor from the [[Dachau concentration camp]]. He was then sent for basic infantry training and was posted to [[Hungary|Hungarian]] border area, where he worked setting up anti-tank defenses in preparation for the [[Red Army]] assault. After two years of service in the German military, Ratzinger's desertion came days before the surrender of German forces in Europe. While desertion in wartime formally carried a death penalty, the threat of encountering any penalty from the broken and distracted German military was miniscule. After being shipped back to Bavaria, he deserted in May [[1945]] and returned to Traunstein. |
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The complete nature of Ratzinger's military service during the period of [[National Socialist]] [[Germany]] is uncertain. Current information suggests he was not a part of a combat unit (although a reference to the [[Landsturm]] has been made, this formation existed only until 1918). From the duties described, the formation Ratzinger was assigned to was a second rate unit, quite possibly [[Volkssturm]] or [[RAD]]. His brother, [[Georg Ratzinger]], however, was two years older than him, and served as a [[Heer]] radio operator, seeing action on the [[Italian front]] from 1944 until the end of the war. |
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In 2004 two more sections opened for traffic: [[Bucharest]] - [[Fundulea]] - Drajna (about 110 km). Today, 130 km out of 220 km are operational (about 60%). |
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Shortly after returning to Traunstein, he was detained for six weeks in an [[Allies|Allied]] [[prisoner of war|POW]] camp, as he wore a German military uniform and the Allies had taken over Traunstein. By June he was repatriated, and he and his brother [[Georg Ratzinger|Georg]] entered a Catholic seminary. On [[June 29]], [[1951]], they were ordained by [[Michael Cardinal von Faulhaber|Cardinal Faulhaber]] of [[Munich]]. His dissertation ([[1953]]) was on [[Saint Augustine]], and his ''[[Habilitation]]sschrift'' (second dissertation) was on [[Saint Bonaventure]]. He gained a doctorate of theology in 1957 and became a professor of [[Freising]] college in 1958. |
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Ratzinger was a professor at the [[University of Bonn]] from [[1959]] until [[1963]], when he moved to the [[University of Münster]]. During his theological career, Ratzinger has taken both liberal and conservative sides. In [[1966]], he took a chair in dogmatic theology at the [[University of Tübingen]], where he was a colleague of [[Hans Küng]] but was confirmed in his traditionalist views by the liberal atmosphere of Tübingen and the Marxist leanings of the student movement of the 1960s. Ratzinger was a liberal theological adviser at the Second Vatican Council but became more conservative after the 1968 student movement prompted him to defend the faith against secularism. In [[1969]] he returned to Bavaria, to the University of [[Regensburg]]. |
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By July 2005 the ancient segment [[Fetesti|Feteşti]] - [[Cernavoda]] will be updated and opened for traffic. The section Drajna - [[Fetesti|Feteşti]] (about 50 km) will be completed in 2006 and the final segment [[Cernavoda]] - [[Constanta|Constanţa]] (58 km) will be inaugurated in 2007. |
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At the [[Second Vatican Council]] ([[1962]]–[[1965]]), Ratzinger served as a ''peritus'' or chief theological expert to [[Josef Cardinal Frings]] of [[Cologne]], Germany. |
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Due to his west - east orientation and the fact that it is, in fact, the highway that goes to the Black Sea, '''A2''' was named '''Autostrada soarelui (Sun's highway)'''. |
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== Archbishop and Cardinal == |
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In [[1972]], he founded the theological journal ''[[Communio]]'' ([http://www.communio-icr.com/ link]) with [[Hans Urs von Balthasar]], [[Henri de Lubac]] and others. ''Communio,'' now published in seventeen editions ([[German language|German]], [[English language|English]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and many others), has become one of the most important [[journal]]s of Catholic thought. |
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The total distance between [[Bucharest]] and [[Constanta|Constanţa]] on the '''A2''' highway will be about 225 km. |
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In March [[1977]] Ratzinger was named [[archbishop]] of [[Munich]] and [[Freising]], and in the [[consistory]] that June was named a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] by [[Pope Paul VI]]. At the time of the 2005 Conclave, he was one of only 14 remaining cardinals appointed by Paul VI, and one of only three of those under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate in that conclave. |
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On [[November 25]], [[1981]] Pope John Paul II named Ratzinger prefect of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]], formerly known as the Holy Office of the [[Inquisition]], which was renamed in [[1908]] by [[Pope Pius X]]. He resigned the Munich archdiocese in early [[1982]], became cardinal-bishop of Velletri-Segni in [[1993]], vice-dean of the [[College of Cardinals]] in [[1998]], and was elected dean in [[2002]]. In office, Ratzinger usually took traditional views on topics such as [[birth control]] and [[Ecumenism|inter-religious dialogue]]. As Prefect, Ratzinger wrote a [[1986]] letter to bishops that identified homosexuality as a "tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil" and "an objective disorder." |
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== Election to the papacy == |
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On [[January 2]], [[2005]], ''[[TIME]]'' magazine quoted unnamed Vatican sources as saying that Ratzinger was a frontrunner to [[Papabile|succeed]] John Paul II should the pope die or become too ill to continue as Pontiff. On the death of John Paul II, the ''[[Financial Times]]'' gave the odds of Ratzinger becoming pope as 7-1, the lead position, but close to his rivals on the liberal wing of the church. |
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Piers Paul Read wrote in ''[[The Spectator]]'' on [[March 5]], [[2005]]: |
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:''There can be little doubt that his courageous promotion of orthodox Catholic teaching has earned him the respect of his fellow cardinals throughout the world. He is patently holy, highly intelligent and sees clearly what is at stake. Indeed, for those who blame the decline of Catholic practice in the developed world precisely on the propensity of many European bishops to hide their heads in the sand, a pope who confronts it may be just what is required. Ratzinger is no longer young — he is 78 years old: but Angelo Roncalli was the same age when he became pope as [[Pope John XXIII|John XXIII]]. He turned the Church upside-down by calling the Second Vatican Council and was perhaps the best-loved pontiff of modern times. As Jeff Israely, the correspondent of Time, was told by a Vatican insider last month, "The Ratzinger solution is definitely on." <div style="font-size: 90%;">(Angelo Roncalli was 76, not 78.)</div> |
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However it is important to note that Ratzinger's election to the papal office was by no means certain. In [[Papal conclave, 2005|conclaves]] men who are considered [[papabile|''papabile'']] often are not elected to office. At times men considered certain to win the election did not win. This is expressed in the saying, "He who enters the conclave as Pope leaves as a Cardinal." |
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[[Image:Jp2cardinalratzingerblessescoffin.jpg|thumb|right|Ratzinger and his concelebrants offer the Rite of Commendation and Farewell to [[Pope John Paul II]]]] |
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Benedict has repeatedly stated he would like to retire to a Bavarian village and dedicate himself to writing books, but more recently, he told friends he was ready to "accept any charge God placed on him." After the death of John Paul II on [[April 2]], [[2005]] Ratzinger ceased functioning as prefect of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]. As he is now pope, it will be up to him to decide who will follow him in the post of prefect. |
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Benedict speaks ten languages, such as [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[English language|English]], and ecclesiastical [[Latin]]. He is also fluent in [[French language|French]] and is an associate member of the French ''[[Académie des sciences morales et politiques]]'' since 1992. He is an accomplished [[pianist]] with a preference for [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] and [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]. |
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He is the eighth [[Germans|German]] pope, but only the third (after [[Pope Clement II|Clement II]] and [[Pope Victor II|Victor II]]) to come from the territory of modern-day [[Germany]]. The last Germanic (Dutch-German) pope, [[Pope Adrian VI|Adrian VI]], was elected in 1522 and died in 1523. He is also the oldest cardinal to become pope since [[Pope Clement XII|Clement XII]] in [[1730]], who, like Ratzinger, was elected at age 78. |
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In [[April 2005]], he was identified as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by ''[[TIME]]'' magazine. |
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On [[April 19]], [[2005]] he was elected as the successor to [[Pope John Paul II]] on the second day of the [[Papal conclave, 2005|papal conclave]]. |
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On his first appearance at the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica after becoming pope, he was announced with the words: |
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:''Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum;'' |
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:''habemus Papam:'' |
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:''Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,'' |
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:''Dominum Josephum'' |
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:''Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger'' |
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:''qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedicti XVI'' |
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Which translates to: "I announce to you great joy: We have a Pope! The most Eminent and Reverend Lord, the Lord Joseph, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Ratzinger, who takes to himself the name of Benedict the sixteenth." |
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At the balcony, his first words to the crowd, before he gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, were: |
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[[Image:stemma_benedict_xvi.jpg|100px|thumb|Ratzinger's coat of arms as a cardinal]] |
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:''Dear brothers and sisters, after the Great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in the Lord's vineyard. I am comforted by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and act even with insufficient instruments. And above all, I entrust myself to your prayers. With the joy of the risen Lord and confidence in His constant help, we will go forward. The Lord will help us and Mary, His most holy mother, will be alongside us. Thank you.'' |
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In a pre-conclave Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, he declared, "We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest value one's own ego and one's own desires." For some Catholics who had hoped for a more "moderate" choice, the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger caused immediate consternation because of the views that Benedict took as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on the necessity of Jesus and the Catholic Church for salvation, on other religions, and on social issues such as homosexuality and abortion. To others, Cardinal Ratzinger represented a type of "Orthodox Catholicism" which they hope to see a continuation of during his reign. |
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== Teachings == |
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Pope Benedict XVI has taken positions similar to [[Pope John Paul II]], and has been a staunch defender of Catholic Doctrine. He has made it clear that he intends to maintain traditions, and not give in to modern pressures to change policy on such issues as [[birth control]], [[abortion]], and [[same-sex marriage]]. Benedict XVI does not believe in [[relativism]], an idea where morals are relative and not universal. Instead he believes morals are universal and unchanging, and therefore should not change as times change. |
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== Controversies == |
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Before becoming pope, Ratzinger was known for his stance that involved United States politics. During the [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential campaign]], he expressed the view that people would be "cooperating in evil" if they backed a political candidate because he or she supports abortion rights or [[Euthanasia|euthanasia]] [http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1021705&tw=wn_wire_story]. |
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Regarding the [[Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal|scandal of sexual abuse]] by priests in the United States, he was sometimes seen by critics as minimizing the abuse. In [[2002]] he told Catholic News Service that "less than 1 percent of priests are guilty of acts of this type." [http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives/011003/011003j.htm] Opponents saw this as ignoring the crimes committed by those who did abuse; others saw it as merely pointing out that this should not taint other priests who live respectable lives. |
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Other controversial statements include a [[1987]] statement that Jewish history and scripture reach fulfillment only in Christ – a statement critics denounced as "theological anti-Semitism." Other religious groups found offense to a 2000 document in which he argued that, "Only in the Catholic church is there eternal salvation." [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15003155%255E39835,00.html] |
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Gay rights advocates have widely criticized his letter to the Bishops of the church in [[1986]], [[wikisource:On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons|On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons]] in which he stated that [[homosexuality]] is a “strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.” In an earlier letter dated [[September 30]], [[1985]], Ratzinger reprimanded [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]] Archbishop [[Raymond Hunthausen]] for his liberal views on women, gays, and doctrinal issues, stating, "The Archdiocese should withdraw all support from any group, which does not unequivocally accept the teaching of the Magisterium concerning the intrinsic evil of homosexual activity." Archbishop Hunthausen was temporarily relieved of his authority [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA+Pope+Wash]. |
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==Literature== |
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* Allen, John L.: ''Cardinal Ratzinger: the Vatican's enforcer of the faith''. – New York: Continuum, 2000 |
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* Wagner, Karl: ''Kardinal Ratzinger: der Erzbischof in München und Freising in Wort und Bild''. – München : Pfeiffer, 1977 |
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==Works== |
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* ''Unterwegs zu Jesus Christus'', Augsburg 2003. |
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* ''Glaube - Wahrheit - Toleranz. Das Christentum und die Weltreligionen'', 2. Aufl., Freiburg i. Brsg. 2003. |
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* ''Gott ist uns nah. Eucharistie: Mitte des Lebens. Hrsg. von Horn, Stephan Otto/ Pfnür, Vinzenz'', Augsburg 2001. |
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* ''Gott und die Welt. Glauben und Leben in unserer Welt. Ein Gespräch mit Peter Seewald'', Köln 2000. |
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* ''Der Geist der Liturgie. Eine Einführung'', 4. Aufl., Freiburg i. Brsg. 2000. |
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* ''Vom Wiederauffinden der Mitte. Texte aus vier Jahrzehnten'', Freiburg i. Brsg. 1997. |
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* ''Salz der Erde. Christentum und katholische Kirche an der Jahrtausendwende. Ein Gespräch mit Peter Seewald'', Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, München, 1996, ISBN 3-453-14845-2 |
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* ''Wahrheit, Werte, Macht. Prüfsteine der pluralistischen Gesellschaft'', Freiburg/ Basel/ Wien 1993. |
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* ''Zur Gemeinschaft gerufen. Kirche heute verstehen'', Freiburg/ Basel/ Wien 1991. |
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* ''Auf Christus schauen. Einübung in Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe'', Freiburg/ Basel/ Wien 1989. |
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* ''Abbruch und Aufbruch. Die Antwort des Glaubens auf die Krise der Werte'', München 1988. |
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* ''Kirche, Ökumene und Politik. Neue Versuche zur Ekklesiologie [Robert Spaemann zum 60. Geburtstag zugeeignet]'', Einsiedeln 1987. |
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* ''Politik und Erlösung. Zum Verhältnis von Glaube, Rationalität und Irrationalem in der sogenannten Theologie der Befreiung (= Rheinisch-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften: G (Geisteswissenschaften), Bd. 279)'', Opladen 1986. |
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* ''Theologische Prinzipienlehre. Bausteine zur Fundamentaltheologie (= Wewelbuch, Bd. 80)'', München 1982. |
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* ''Das Fest des Glaubens. Versuche zur Theologie des Gottesdienstes'', 2. Aufl., Einsiedeln 1981. |
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* ''Eschatologie, Tod und ewiges Leben'', Leipzig 1981. |
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* ''Glaube, Erneuerung, Hoffnung. Theologisches Nachdenken über die heutige Situation der Kirche. Hrsg. von Kraning, Willi'', Leipzig 1981. |
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* ''Umkehr zur Mitte. Meditationen eines Theologen'', Leipzig 1981. |
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* ''Zum Begriff des Sakramentes (= Eichstätter Hochschulreden, Bd. 79)'', München 1979. |
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* ''Die Tochter Zion. Betrachtungen über den Marienglaube der Kirche'', Einsiedeln 1977. |
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* ''Der Gott Jesu Christi. Betrachtungen über den Dreieinigen Gott'', München 1976. |
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* ''Das neue Volk Gottes. Entwürfe zur Ekklesiologie (Topos-Taschenbücher, Bd. 1)'' Düsseldorf 1972. |
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* ''Die Einheit der Nationen. Eine Vision der Kirchenväter'', Salzburg u.a. 1971. |
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* ''Das Problem der Dogmengeschichte in der Sicht der katholischen Theologie (= Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschungen des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen: Geisteswissenschaften, Bd. 139)'', Köln u.a. 1966. |
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* ''Die letzte Sitzungsperiode des Konzils (= Konzil, Bd. 4)'', Köln 1966. |
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* ''Ereignisse und Probleme der dritten Konzilsperiode (= Konzil, Bd. 3)'', Köln 1965. |
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* ''Die erste Sitzungsperiode des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils. Ein Rückblick (= Konzil, Bd. 1)'', Köln 1963. |
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* ''Das Konzil auf dem Weg. Rückblick auf die 2. Sitzungsperiode des 2. Vatikanischen Konzils (= Konzil, Bd. 2)'', Köln 1963. |
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* ''Die christliche Brüderlichkeit'', München 1960. |
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* ''Die Geschichtstheologie des heiligen Bonaventura'' (habilisasjonsavhandling), München u.a. 1959. |
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* ''Volk und Haus und Gottes in Augustins Lehre von der Kirche'' (diss. 1951), München 1954. |
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* ''Dogma und Verkündigung'' |
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* ''Einführung in das Christentum'' (2000) |
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==See also== |
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* ''[[Dominus Iesus]]'' |
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* List of popes and [[antipope]]s known as [[Pope Benedict]] |
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* [[wikisource:On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons|On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons]] by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Later Pope Benedict XVI), 1986 |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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==External links== |
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{{wikinews|German Cardinal Ratzinger elected Pope Benedict XVI}} |
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*[http://www.vatican.va The Holy See] – Vatican web site |
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*[http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050401-033437-4653r.htm Analysis: Ratzinger in the ascendance] |
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*[http://thepopeblog.blogspot.com The Pope Blog: Pope Benedict XVI] |
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*[http://www.ratzinger.it Amici di Joseph Ratzinger] |
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* ''[http://www.communio-icr.com/ Communio]'' magazine, founded by Ratzinger and others. Contains recent articles by him. |
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* [http://www.catholicapologeticsofamerica.blogspot.com Catholic Apologetics of America], a website that supports Pope Benedict XVI |
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* [http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christianity/Denominations/Catholicism/Popes/B/Benedict_XVI/ Open Directory Project – Benedict XVI directory category] |
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*[http://www.punditguy.com/2005/04/german_pope.html Pope News Roundup] |
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{{Pope| |
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Predecessor=[[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]]| |
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Successor=''Incumbent''|Dates=2005–present}} |
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==Sources== |
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*[http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=663 World War II years] |
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[[Category:1927 births|Benedict XVI]] |
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[[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops|Ratzinger, Joseph]] |
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[[Category:Popes|Benedict 16]] |
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[[Category:German popes|Benedict XVI]] |
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[[Category:Bundesverdienstkreuz|Benedict XVI alias Joseph Ratzinger]] |
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[[bg:Бенедикт XVI]] |
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[[cs:Benedikt XVI.]] |
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[[cy:Pab Benedict XVI]] |
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[[da:Pave Benedikt 16.]] |
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[[de:Benedikt XVI.]] |
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<!-- [[en:Pope Benedict XVI]] --> |
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[[el:Βενέδικτος ΙΣΤ']] |
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[[eo:Benedikto la 16-a]] |
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[[es:Benedicto XVI]] |
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[[fi:Benedictus XVI]] |
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[[fr:Benoît XVI]] |
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[[gl:Benedito XVI]] |
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[[he:בנדיקטוס השישה עשר]] |
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[[hu:XVI. Benedek]] |
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[[id:Paus Benediktus XVI]] |
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[[it:Papa Benedetto XVI]] |
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[[ja:ベネディクトゥス16世 (ローマ教皇)]] |
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[[la:Benedictus_XVI]] |
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[[lb:Benoît XVI. (Poopst)]] |
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[[li:Benedictus XVI]] |
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[[lt:Benediktas XVI]] |
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[[nl:Paus Benedictus XVI]] |
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[[no:Benedikt XVI]] |
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[[pl:Papież Benedykt XVI]] |
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[[pt:Papa Bento XVI]] |
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[[ro:Papa Benedict al XVI-lea]] |
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[[ru:Бенедикт XVI, папа]] |
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[[sk:Benedikt XVI.]] |
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[[sl:Papež Benedikt XVI.]] |
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[[sr:Папа Бенедикт XVI]] |
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[[sv:Benedictus XVI]] |
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[[th:สมเด็จพระสันตะปาปาเบเนดิกต์ที่ 16]] |
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[[zh:本篤十六世]] |
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[[zh-min-nan:Benedictus 16-sè]] |
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Revision as of 02:19, 20 April 2005
The construction of the A2 romanian highway between Bucharest and Constanţa began in the communist era during Nicolae Ceauşescu's regime.
The first section Feteşti - Cernavoda (about 23 km) opened in 1987. This section includes the complex system of bridges over the Dunǎre (Danube) river at Cernavoda.
After the fall of the communism in 1989 the construction continued for a short period, but it was finally stopped in 1993 due to lack of financial ressources. The construction continued after 1998 and the highway is to be completed by 2007.
In 2004 two more sections opened for traffic: Bucharest - Fundulea - Drajna (about 110 km). Today, 130 km out of 220 km are operational (about 60%).
By July 2005 the ancient segment Feteşti - Cernavoda will be updated and opened for traffic. The section Drajna - Feteşti (about 50 km) will be completed in 2006 and the final segment Cernavoda - Constanţa (58 km) will be inaugurated in 2007.
Due to his west - east orientation and the fact that it is, in fact, the highway that goes to the Black Sea, A2 was named Autostrada soarelui (Sun's highway).
The total distance between Bucharest and Constanţa on the A2 highway will be about 225 km.