This Nov 26, 2011 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI waving as he leaves Paul VI hall after attending a concert of the Asturias Principality Symphony Orchestra directed by Chilean conductor Maximiano Valdes, at the Vatican. On Monday, Feb 11, 2013 the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign on Feb 28, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
VATICAN CITY (AP, AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI announced on Monday he would resign on Feb 28 as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, citing his age and health - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old Pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning.
He emphasised that carrying out the duties of being Pope - the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide - requires "both strength of mind and body".
"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," he told the cardinals.
No comments:
Post a Comment