7 Most Powerful People of 2013

5. Pope Benedict XVI

Pope, Roman Catholic Church
Age: 85
Residence: Vatican City, Vatican City State
Country of Citizenship: Germany
Marital Status: Single

Pope Benedict XVI serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church. According to the doctrine of Papal Supremacy, the Pope enjoys "supreme, full, immediate, and universal power" over the souls of 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. Many turn to the Pope for the final word on life's most personal decisions, including birth control, abortion, marriage and euthanasia (the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma).  

On 11 February 2013, the aging Pope Benedict announced his pending resignation, effective from 28 February 2013, because of "lack of strength of mind and body."

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