1982 - Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

After serving as Archbishop for five years, in 1982 Ratzinger was promoted again - with Pope John Paul II naming him Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission. The powerful role of Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith put him in control of many of the Church's most controversial subject areas - the post is as an enforcer of the church's doctrine, disciplining theologians and clergy who expressed opinions conflicting with the Church's dogma.

Above, Cardinal Ratzinger waves goodbye to Bavarian Catholics in Munich as he leaves his Archbishopric.