Moments of Benedict XVI's Papacy

February 11, 2013 - 8:00am
After nearly eight years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of cardinals in Rome that he would resign.
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After nearly eight years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of cardinals in Rome that he would resign.

Becoming Pope

Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals on April 19, 2005. Photo: Max Rossi/Reuters

White Smoke

White smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, indicating a new pope has been elected on April 19, 2005. Photo: Jerry Lampen/Reuters

Krakow Greeting

Pope Benedict XVI greets the youth in front of a huge Jesus Christ portrait in Krakow, Poland, on May 27, 2006. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Visit with Students

Pope Benedict XVI greets participants of the first European Meeting of University Students at the Vatican on July 11, 2009. Photo: Osservatore Romano/Reuters

Saturno Hat

Pope Benedict XVI wears a Saturno hat as he leaves at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican on June 3, 2009. Photo: Giampiero Sposito/Reuters

Gust of Wind

A gust of wind lifts Pope Benedict XVI's mantle during the weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on June 8, 2011. Photo: Max Rossi/Reuters

Abuse Scandal

During a September 2010 visit to Great Britain, Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church did not move quickly enough to remove priests who molested children. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests issued a statement saying they hoped the pope would use his remaining days to take "tangible action to safeguard vulnerable children." Photo: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Grotto Prayer

Pope Benedict XVI prays inside St. Paul's Grotto in Rabat, Malta, on April 17, 2010. Photo: Osservatore Romano/Reuters

Waving to the Crowd

Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of a vespers, or evening prayers, mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul in Rome on Jan. 25, 2013. Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl said at a press conference that the pope himself "said by the very nature of his age, this was not going to be a long pontificate." Photo: Tony Gentile/Reuters

85th Birthday Celebration

Pope Benedict XVI said Feb. 11, 2013, that he would resign by the end of the month because of poor health. Here, he leaves a concert by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra at the Vatican for his 85th birthday celebration on April 20, 2012. Photo: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Blessing in Malta

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the congregation with Matthew Festing, grand master of the Knights of Malta, at a mass marking the 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta at the St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City on Feb. 9, 2013. Photo: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Stepping Down

Pope Benedict XVI embraces Cardinal Angelo Sodano at the Vatican on Feb. 11, 2013. After nearly eight years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of cardinals in Rome that he would resign. Photo: Osservatore Romano/Reuters

Mexico Trip

Pope Benedict XVI flies over the Sanctuary of Cristo Rey on his way to celebrate a mass in Silao on March 25, 2012. The pope's declining health, including limited travel, led to his decision to step down. Photo: Osservatore Romano/Reuters

Poor Health

Pope Benedict XVI became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to resign. "Michelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years," President Obama said in a statement. Photo: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Angelus Prayer

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leads the Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Feb. 10, 2013. The timing of the pope's announcement would allow time for the College of Cardinals to elect the next pope by Easter on March 31. Photo: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Leaving Mass

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of a mass at the St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City on Feb. 9, 2013. Some have speculated that the next pope will be from Latin America. Photo: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Seminary in Rome

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at a meeting with seminarians at the Romano Maggiore seminary in Rome on Feb. 8, 2013. The next pope will continue to uphold the basic tenets of the Catholic Church, said Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl. Photo: Tony Gentile/Reuters

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