On April 19, 2005 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was elected as successor to Pope John Paul II. He became the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and chose the name Benedict XVI. On Feb 11, 2013, he announced that he will step down from the papal office on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. CET citing health reasons.

The highlights of his nearly eight-year papacy are below:

How will you remember Pope Benedict XVI? Share your thoughts in the comments below.