Pictures: Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 14, 2011.  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by a Cardinal at the end of his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 14, 2011.  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict attends a Mass celebrating the anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries at St. Peter’s Basilica.  (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI receives a gift from Lord Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, during a private audience at the Vatican.  (Osservatore Romano/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI is helped during his pastoral visit at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Rome.  (Max Rossi/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI touches a child’s face during his pastoral visit at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Rome.  (Max Rossi/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI leads his weekly Wednesday general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI leads the Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of his private apartment at the Vatican.  (Max Rossi/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI meets Lebanon’s Prime Minister Mikati and his wife May at the Vatican.  (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by cardinals as he arrives for a concert by Asturias Symphony Orchestra in Paul VI hall at the Vatican.  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead a special audience with members of Italian Caritas at the Vatican.  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI  (Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters)

Pope Benedict prepares to kiss a baby as he arrives to celebrate a mass at the Stade de l’Amitie in Cotonou.  (Finbarr O’Reilly/Reuters)

Pope Benedict leads Sunday mass at the Stade de l’Amitie in Cotonou.  (Finbarr O’Reilly/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI greets a boy and girl during his visit to foyer “Paix et Joie” at the St. Rita church in Cotonou during his pastoral visit in Benin.  (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

Italian Prime Minister Monti talks with Pope Benedict XVI at Fiumicino airport in Rome.  (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to celebrate a mass commemorating cardinals and bishops who died in 2011, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican  (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leads his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican.  (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)