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Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception prayer in Piazza di Spagna in downtown Rome on Dec. 8. This papal tradition marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Italy as the Pope crowns a statue of Mary with a garland of flowers.
Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images
Nun smooths wrinkles out of Pope's mass at Vatican
A nun irons a secondary altar prior to the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate the holy mass of Pentecost Sunday at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on May 27.
Where's the cake? Pope Benedict turns 85
Alessia Giuliani-Vatican Pool via Getty Images
Children dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes dance for Pope Benedict XVI during the Pontiff's 85th birthday celebrations in the Clementine Hall on April 16 in Vatican City, Vatican. Numerous visitors joined Pope Benedict in the celebrations, including his older brother and the premier of his native German state of Bavaria. Benedict, who took that name following his election on April 19, 2005, was born as Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927 in the town of Marktl am Inn, Bavaria.
Gregorio Borgia/POOL/EPA
Bavaria's President Horst Seehofer presents a gift to Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his 85th birthday celebration in the Clementine hall in Vatican City on April 16.
Pope Benedict XVI, one of the oldest popes in history, celebrates his 85th birthday today. This Thursday marks seven years since German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took the name Pope Benedict.
Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Look back at his life from childhood through his papacy.
Pope Benedict XVI greeted with warmth, sombrero in Silao
Yuri Cortez / AFP - Getty Images
Wearing a large brim traditional Mexican hat, Pope Benedict XVI waves at the crowd upon arriving at Bicentennial Park in Silao, Guanajuato State, Mexico on March 25.
Dario Lopez-Mills / AP
Pilgrims cheer and sing as they wait at the site where Pope Benedict XVI will give a Mass in Bicentennial Park near Silao, Mexico.
Pope Benedict XVI rode in the popemobile through an enthusiastic crowd in Silao, Mexico en route to the Mass at Bicentennial Park. One person handed the pope a broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero that he wore on his way to the altar at the sun-drenched park.
Many Mexicans said they were surprised by the warmth of Benedict, whose image is more reserved and academic than his popular predecessor, John Paul II, who was dubbed "Mexico's pope."
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--Msnbc.com wire services contributed to this post
Alberto Pizzoli / AFP - Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI is helped with a large brim traditional Mexican hat, as a crowd greetes him on his arrival at Bicentennial Park in Silao, Mexico.
Tony Gentile / Reuters
Acrobats "Pellegrini Brothers" perform in front of Pope Benedict XVI during his weekly Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican December 15, 2010.
Acrobats perform for Pope Benedict XVI
The AP reports:
Four acrobats have taken their circus act to the Vatican, performing shirtless for Pope Benedict
XVI during his weekly general audience.The men took off their shirts as they came on stage Wednesday to begin their show, which lasted a few minutes. They lifted each other in acrobatic poses, keeping balance with their bodies supported only by their arms, at one point creating a human tower.