Pope Benedict resigns from the papacy on February 28. He has said his goal after stepping down is to live quietly in prayer and meditation.
Pope Benedict
![Pope Benedict waves as he arrives to lead the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 18, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/46ad2ba7-3c84-4487-b1b8-418d6aea3400_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Pope Benedict waves as he arrives to lead the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 18, 2012.
![Pope Benedict wears a sombrero, a traditional Mexican hat, while being driven through the crowd before officiating a mass in Silao, Mexico, March 25, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/026ea744-f6ed-4c11-a8c0-2998ae83b20b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Pope Benedict wears a sombrero, a traditional Mexican hat, while being driven through the crowd before officiating a mass in Silao, Mexico, March 25, 2012.
![Pope Benedict holds his cross as he leads a solemn mass in Zagreb, Croatia, June 5, 2011.](https://gdb.voanews.com/485fb74a-a6a0-41e5-91bf-1b2e2772b734_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Pope Benedict holds his cross as he leads a solemn mass in Zagreb, Croatia, June 5, 2011.
![Pope Benedict visits the Ardeatine Caves Memorial in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2011.](https://gdb.voanews.com/d844ce50-097b-4def-b4e9-2c8eb4d6746d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Pope Benedict visits the Ardeatine Caves Memorial in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2011.