Pope Benedict XVI (2006 – 2013)

The circulation coin bears a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1927), who emerged from the conclave on 19 April 2005 as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and held the office until his resignation on 28 February 2013. The state name Città del Vaticano indicates the coin's country of issue.

Joseph Ratzinger was elected head of the Catholic Church as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, having previously served as an influential theologian and long-time Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He drew worldwide attention in 2013 when he became the first pope in roughly 600 years to resign voluntarily, citing his declining strength. His pontificate was marked by theologically conservative positions as well as the Church's struggle with abuse scandals and interfaith dialogue.