Benedict XVI succeeded this man as head of the Roman Catholic church in 2005
As such, 
he is Bishop of Rome, Sovereign of the Vatican City State and head of the ... 
Pope Benedict XVI was already one of the most influential men in the Vatican 
and .... Vatican sources as saying that Ratzinger was a frontrunner to succeed 
John Paul... [DOC] [TLE] Pope Benedict XVI: A reluctant leader?