Fr. Michael Collins has an intimate knowledge of Vatican affairs and has met Pope Benedict XVI on several occasions. He is writing a balanced biography of the new pope for those who would like to know him better. Part I gives a short biography of Joseph Ratzinger, the environment and historical circumstances of his childhood, his education and his career as a theologian, university teacher and Peritus at Vatican II. Part II outlines Cardinal Ratzinger's time at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and highlights some of the more dramatic and public of his interventions in that position, many of which were quite controversial. Part 3 looks at the opening days of the pontificate of Benedict XVI and, from the various statements, homilies and addresses delivered at that time, looks towards the future and assesses the likely pattern of the Papacy of Joseph Ratzinger.Michael Collins is an accredited journalist to the Holy See. He was based in Rome throughout recent events and covered the funeral of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI for numerous media organisations including: CNN, Sky International, BBC, Italian state TV, RTE (Ireland) for whom he appeared on two TV channels and five radio programmes. Fr Collins has recently taken up a new appointment in the Archdiocese of Dublin.