Pope Benedict: His life in pictures

A reproduction picture shows the Ratzinger family on July 8, 1951: Joseph Ratzinger (2R) who became Pope Benedmore

Pope Benedict XVI prays while holding a candle light as he arrives to lead a vigil mass during Easter celebratmore

Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.  Pope Bmore

A reproduction picture shows professor Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict in 2005, during the fomore

Pope Benedict XVI leads his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican November 18, 2009. REUTEmore

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby at the end of his weekly general audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vaticmore

Pope John Paul II welcomes Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict in 2005, at an extraordinary memore

A reproduction picture shows Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict in 2005, as a helper of German air formore

Pope Benedict XVI walks through Auschwitz's notorious gate with the phrase 'Arbeit Macht Frei' (Work sets you more

Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, appears on a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vmore

A reproduction picture shows Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger during the 1250 anniversary of Bonifatius pilgrimage inmore

Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, appears on a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vmore

A baby cries as Pope Benedict XVI strokes his cheeks after the weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vamore

U.S. President George W. Bush presents Pope Benedict XVI with a walking stick, hand carved by a former homelesmore

Pope Benedict XVI is transported in a gondola in the Gran Canal during his pastoral visit in Venice, Italy Maymore

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives on a boat for a pastoral visit in Venice, Italy May 7, 2011. REUTERS/Stemore

Pope Benedict wears his Saturno sun hat as he arrives to lead a weekly general audience at the Vatican June 25more

Pope Benedict XVI stands at the Memorial of Moses Monastery at Mount Nebo, Jordan May 9, 2009.  REUTERS/Tony Gmore

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for the Immaculate Conception celebration prayer in Piazza di Spagna (Spmore

Pope Benedict XVI leaves as he appears for the last time at the balcony of his summer residence after his resimore

Pope Benedict XVI greets a woman during a meeting with young people at the Santa Maria Degli Angeli Basilica imore

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict XVI (R) walk through the gardens at the Palace of Holyroodhousemore

Pope Benedict XVI leads a traditional religious procession through the streets of Rome May 26, 2005.   REUTERSmore

Pope Benedict XVI look on as he talks to journalists during his flight from Rome to Santiago de Compostela, Spmore

A tear appears in the eye of a woman watching a giant screen showing the departure of Pope Benedict XVI after more

Pope Benedict XVI leads the Angelus prayer in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome, Italy Augmore

Pope Benedict XVI leads the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) Good Friday service at Rome's Colosseum,more

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate a mass during his pastoral visit in Palermo, Italy, October 3, 2010.  Rmore

Pope Benedict XVI places a red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head of new Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the more

]Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leads his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican October 27, 20more

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful at the end of his visit to the canteen of Sant'Egidio Community in Rommore

Three children perform the "offertori", offertory, as Pope Benedict XVI holds Mass in the Italian Adriatic coamore

The papal hat is placed on Pope Benedict as he leads his inaugural Mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vaticanmore

Faithful hold a sign as Pope Benedict XVI leads the Sunday Angelus after announcing that he would resign, in Smore

The new elected Pope Benedict XVI, known as German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, greets thousands of pilgrims fromore