With reference to Pope Benedict, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?(1)He was a native of Germany.(2)He was the first Pope to resign in 600 years.Select the correct answer from the code given below:

1. A

   Only 1

   Option (a) states that only statement 1 is correct, claiming that Pope Benedict was a native of Germany but ignoring the accuracy of the second statement regarding his resignation. This option fails because historical records confirm he was indeed the first Pope in 600 years to resign, making statement 2 equally valid.

2. B

   Only 2

   Option (b) claims that only statement 2 is correct, acknowledging his historic resignation while incorrectly dismissing his German nationality. This is incorrect because Pope Benedict XVI was born in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany, thereby making the first statement completely true as well.

3. C

   Both 1 and 2

   Option (c) asserts that both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct, accurately identifying that Pope Benedict XVI was a native of Germany and that he became the first Pope to resign from his papacy in 600 years when he stepped down in February 2013. This comprehensive option correctly validates both factual aspects presented in the question stems, making it the definitive key.

4. D

   Neither 1 nor 2

   Option (d) asserts that neither statement is correct, which is entirely false since both propositions regarding his German origins and his unprecedented resignation are historically accurate facts. Consequently, this option is incorrect.

Summary. Official key is (c) because both statements regarding Pope Benedict XVI are factually correct. Statement 1 is verified by his birth in Germany, while statement 2 is confirmed by his historic resignation in 2013, which broke a centuries-old tradition. Aspirants often confuse papal resignation precedents, but he was indeed the first to do so in six centuries. Therefore, evaluating both statements leads directly to the correct combination in option (c).