In Photos: Pope Benedict XVI (44 images)

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Christmas mass to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on December 24, 2011. Pope Benedict XVI hailed Christ's humility, urging the faithful to look beyond the Christmas "glitter" and "enlightened reason", and issued a powerful message for peace. UPI/Stefano Spaziani

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Christmas mass to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on December 24, 2011. Pope Benedict XVI hailed Christ's humility, urging the faithful to look beyond the Christmas "glitter" and "enlightened reason", and issued a powerful message for peace. UPI/Stefano Spaziani

Religious leaders, including Benedict XVI, meet outside Basilica of San Francesco during the interreligious talks on October 27, 2011 in Assisi, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI The Pope met with approximately 300 religious leaders and atheist intellectuals, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Assisi interfaith gathering. UPI/Stefano Spaziani

Catholic Israeli Arab boys hold a photo of Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Mass on Mt. Precipice in Nazareth May 14, 2009. Approximately 39,000 people attended the largest mass of Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Nazareth, hometown of Jesus. (UPI Photo/Debbie Hill)