Pope Benedict XVI, who served as leader of the Catholic church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013, has died aged 95. In 2013, he became the first pontiff to resign as head of the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages. The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his shock decision to step down in February 2013. We take a look back at his life in this section.
This file photo taken on January 1962 shows Josef Ratzinger (L), then professor of theology with Cologne's Cardinal Joseph Frings who took him as an advisor to the council at the Vatican. (Image source: AFP)
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This file photo taken on May 28, 1977 shows Josef Ratzinger (R), ordained archbishop of Munich and Freising by the Bishop of Berlin, cardinal Alfred Bengsch. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on April 19, 2005 Germany's Joseph Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica's main balcony after being elected the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican City. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on April 19, 2005 Germany's Joseph Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, waves to crowd from the window of St Peter's Basilica's main balcony after being elected the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican City. (Image source: AFP)
In this file photograph taken on April 8, 2005, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger blesses the coffin of Pope John Paul II during his funeral mass on St Peter's Square at The Vatican City. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on April 19, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI waves to youths at the end of a rally at St Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on October 16, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI (C) and late pope's John Paul II's personal secretary, Polish Stanislaw Dziwisz (C-R) attend the screening of a new film on the late pope John Paul II on October 16, 2008 at the Vatican. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on May 1, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI (R) prays at the coffin of late pope John Paul II after the ceremony of beatification of John Paul II at St Peter's square at The Vatican. (Image source: AFP)
In this file photo taken on September 28, 2014 Pope emeritus Benedict XVI (L) speaks with Pope Francis during a papal mass for elderly people at St Peter's square at the Vatican. (Image source: AFP)
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In this file photo taken on February 27, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI waves from the altar as he arrives on St Peter's square for his last weekly audience at the Vatican. (Image source: AFP)
