A pope's journey

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

This recent file picture taken on February 6, 2013 at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving for the weekly general audience. The Vatican spokesman announced that Pope says he will resign on February 28. AFP/Files/Vincenzo Pinto

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican. AP/Domenico Stinellis/Files

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Vatican. Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, center, talks to other cardinals after Pope Benedict XVI, not pictured, announced his resignation during a meeting with the cardinals, at the Vatican. AP/L'Osservatore Romano

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

This picture shows a copy of the text in Latin read by Pope Benedict XVI earlier in the day announcing his resignation at the Vatican. AFP/Andreas Solaro

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a statement at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Merkel says she has the "very highest respect" for German-born Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step down. AP/Michael Sohn

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

Journalists work outside St Peter's Square after it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign. AFP/Vincenzo Pinto

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

A file picture taken on December 12, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI clicking on a tablet to send his first Twitter message during his weekly general audience at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. AFP/Vincenzo Pinto

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

A handout file photo released by the Osservatore Romano on December 22, 2012 shows Vatican's ex-bulter Paolo Gabriele meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican City prison. AFP/Osservatore Romano

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

A file picture taken on April 20, 2008 shows Pope Benedict XVI praying during his visit to Ground Zero in New York. AFP/Pool/Pier Paolo Cito

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

Picture taken in 1951 shows the family of Josef Ratzinger (up, R) in Freising, Bavaria, after the ordination of himself and his brother Georg (up L). Bottom row : his sister Maria, his Mother Maria and his father Josef. AFP/Erzbistum Muenchen Und Freising

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

In this April 24, 2005 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd after celebrating his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. AP/Gregorio Borgia/Files

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

Picture taken on May 11, 2009 in Jerusalem shows Pope Benedict XVI gesturing as he prepares to sit with Chief Tel Aviv Rabbi, Holocaust survivor Yisrael Meir Lau (L), Knesset (Israeli Parliament) speaker Reuven Rivlin (2L), Israeli President Shimon Peres (2R) and Avner Shalev, the director of Yad Vashem, during a ceremony at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. AFP/Menahem Kahana/Files

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican November in this 16, 2011 file photo. Reuters/Stefano Rellandini/Files

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Updated on Feb 11, 2013 09:42 pm IST

A pope's journey

This recent file picture taken on February 6, 2013 at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican shows Pope Benedict XVI arriving for the weekly general audience. The Vatican spokesman announced that Pope says he will resign on February 28. AFP/Files/Vincenzo Pinto

This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican. AP/Domenico Stinellis/Files

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi talks to reporters during a news conference at the Vatican. Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi

This picture shows a copy of the text in Latin read by Pope Benedict XVI earlier in the day announcing his resignation at the Vatican. AFP/Andreas Solaro

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a statement at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Merkel says she has the "very highest respect" for German-born Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step down. AP/Michael Sohn

Journalists work outside St Peter's Square after it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign. AFP/Vincenzo Pinto

A file picture taken on December 12, 2012 shows Pope Benedict XVI clicking on a tablet to send his first Twitter message during his weekly general audience at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. AFP/Vincenzo Pinto

A handout file photo released by the Osservatore Romano on December 22, 2012 shows Vatican's ex-bulter Paolo Gabriele meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican City prison. AFP/Osservatore Romano

A file picture taken on April 20, 2008 shows Pope Benedict XVI praying during his visit to Ground Zero in New York. AFP/Pool/Pier Paolo Cito

Picture taken in 1951 shows the family of Josef Ratzinger (up, R) in Freising, Bavaria, after the ordination of himself and his brother Georg (up L). Bottom row : his sister Maria, his Mother Maria and his father Josef. AFP/Erzbistum Muenchen Und Freising

In this April 24, 2005 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd after celebrating his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. AP/Gregorio Borgia/Files

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican November in this 16, 2011 file photo. Reuters/Stefano Rellandini/Files

Pope Benedict XVI greets the youth in front of a huge Jesus Christ portrait in Krakow in this May 27, 2006 file photo. Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay/Files

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