Pope Benedict XVI, 2005-2013
Who will be the next Pope?
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005 at the age of 78, making him one of the oldest new pontiffs in history.
Just under eight years later, Pope Benedict XVI announced: "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."
He will resign the position on February 28, 2013. In the final weeks of his papacy, we look back on his time in office.
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