Pope Benedict XVI a profile

POPE Benedict XVI has a reputation as a charming and shy man who is also deeply conservative in his outlook and teaching.

The German-born pontiff, 85, who is resigning due to his age and diminishing strength, was elected to the papacy in 2005, only the second non-Italian pope since 1522 and the oldest on election since the 18th century.

The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants. The most famous resignation was Pope Celestine V in 1294; Dante placed him in hell for it.