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(FILES) - Picture taken on September 24, 2011 in Freiburg of a girl carrying a giant cut-out featuring Pope Benedict XVI as she goes to the Cathedral before his arrival, on the third day of his first state visit to his native Germany. Pope Benedict XVI announced on February 11, 2013 he will resign as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics on February 28 because his age prevented him from carrying out his duties -- an unprecedented move in the modern history of the Catholic Church.AFP PHOTO / THOMAS KIENZLE *** Local Caption *** 464336-01-08.jpg -
Pope Benedict XVI waves from the popemobile on his way for an evening prayer service at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris during his first visit to France in 2008. AFP Photo - Olivier Laban-Mattei. -
Souvenirs with portraits of Pope Benedict XVI are displayed in a shop near the Vatican after it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign. AFP Photo/ Vincenzo Pinto -
Germany's Joseph Ratzinger was unveiled as the new Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 after being elected the 265th pope of the Roman at the Vatican City. AFP Photo / Patrick Hertzog -
A photo taken in 1943 during World War II shows Joseph Ratzinger as a German Air Force assistant. AFP Photo / KNA-Bild -
Pope Benedict XVI pictured leaving at the end of his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican in 2011. Reuters / Stefano Rellandini -
Pope Benedict XVI wearing a sombrero in Leon last year. AFP Photo / Osservatore Romono -
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithfull from his popemobile on his way to visit the nativity in St Peter's Square after celebrating the Vespers and Te Deum prayer in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on December 31, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Filippo Monteforte -
Pope Benedict XVI kisses a baby, Maria Tyszczak from Poland, as he arrives to preside over a Celebration of Mass in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, in Scotland in 2010. AFP Photo / Paul Ellis -
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, sitting on the throne at left, announced that he would resign February 28. AFP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano -
In pictures: Pontiff, popemobile, paraphernalia and prayers
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