In pictures: Pope Benedict XVI

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A photo taken in 1943 during World War II shows Joseph Ratzinger as a German Air Force assistant
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Joseph Ratzinger (back row right), with his father Josef, mother Maria, sister Maria and brother Georg in 1951
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Joseph Ratzinger gives a theology lecture at the University of Freising during the summer semester in 1955
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Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was a close aide to his predecessor John Paul II
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Cardinal Ratzinger swings an incense burner during John Paul II's funeral in April 2005
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Habemus Papam! Joseph Ratzinger became Pope at the age of 78 in April 2005
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Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd in St Peter's Square after the announcement
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Benedict plays piano at his summer residence in July 2006 in Les Combes, Val D'Aosta, Italy
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US President George W Bush met Pope Benedict on a visit to the Vatican in June 2008
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Pope Benedict waves to thousands of pilgrims in Hyde Park, London, in September 2010, during the first state visit to the UK by a Pontiff
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Pope Benedict met former Cuban leader Fidel Castro during a visit to Cuba in March 2012
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A frail Benedict said mass in the Vatican yesterday
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Lightning strikes St Peter's dome at the Vatican just hours after the Pope announced his retirement