Pope Benedict XVI to resign
Pope Benedict shocks the world by saying he no longer has the mental and physical strength to cope with his ministry.
forthe 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta at the St. Peter Basilica in Vatican February 9, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
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Reuters: Mark Kolmar
on Feb 11, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Pope Benedict XVI attends a Mass celebrating the 200th anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries at St. Peter's Basilica December 12, 2011. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Angelus prayer from a window of his private apartment, as a gust of wind blows a cloth, at the Vatican February 28, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Pope Benedict XVI leaves in his popemobile after blessing the traditional Crib in St Peter's square at the end of the Te Deum prayer in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 31, 2009. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Pope Benedict XVI looks on during a mass at Antonio Maceo square in Santiago de Cuba March 26, 2012. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during Angelus prayer from his summer residence, in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome August 20, 2006. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Pope Benedict XVI leaves Lambeth Palace in the Popemobile in London September 17, 2010. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Pope Benedict XVI holds his cross as he leads a solemn mass in Zagreb June 5, 2011. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianch
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Eric Martyn
on Feb 11, 2013 at 12:13 PM
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Pope Benedict is to resign, ANSA news agency reports - no further details at this stage. -
Pope Benedict XVI waves during a mass conducted by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, for the 900th anniversary of the Order of the Knights of Malta at the St. Peter Basilica in Vatican February 9, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
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Vatican confirms Pope to resign on 28 February.
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The last pope to resign voluntarily was Celestine V in 1294 (via BBC News TV).
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The Pope says says strength no longer adequate to continue in office due to advanced age - statement.
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Pope says he is resigning in full freedom, and that he is "fully aware of the gravity of this gesture".
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The Vatican says Benedict resignation means papacy will be vacant until successor is chosen.
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Vatican official says expects period between Benedict resignation and election of successor to be "as brief as possible".
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German government spokesman says "moved" by news of Pope's resignation. Merkel to react later on Monday.
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The Vatican Radio website has just posted Pope Benedict's resignation statement. Here it is:
Full text of Pope's declaration
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.
However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 -
This is a very sad news. Let's pray for the Pope. -
Our latest write-up:
Pope resigns, saying no longer has strength to fulfil ministry
ROME, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Monday he will resign on Feb 28 because he no longer has the strength to fulfil the duties of his office, becoming the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to take such a step.
The 85-year-old pope said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months "to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me".
"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter," he said according to a statement from the Vatican.
A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff would step down from 1900 GMT on Feb. 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor is chosen.
(Reporting by Steve Scherer; editing by Janet McBride) -
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The Pope is a very wise man. He is not just going to hang on for the sake of hanging on. He is going to pass the torch while he is of sound mind and body and can enjoy watching his successor. More people should take note. -
Just woke up and heard the news on the radio. I am shocked! -
Let's pray and wish our pontiff well. I'm sure he didn't come by this easily
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Shocked. However, he is a wise man to recognize his weakness. Sets an interesting precedent for future Pontiffs.....
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Shocked and deeply saddened by the news. May the Lord bless our dear Pope.
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a Lot of corruption in the Church took place while he was a Pope , and he didn't act in a good way towards the church in the Middle east , he forced a corrupted bishop as Patriarch in Lebanon for the Maronite and he supported the Syrian regime !
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A very sad news. He is such a nice man. God bless him always. -
I have utmost respect for the pontiff for taking this honourable decision.it is a very wise decision and I am in support of it.
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Israeli chief Rabbi praises Pope's inter-religious outreach, wishes him good health - spokesman
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Via @dimitrisbounias I have just discovered that Gregory XII had also resigned, in 1415. #Pope quitting more common than I thought
— Lisa Jucca (@ReutersLJucca) February 11, 2013 -
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I pray for all those who have hatred in their hearts. May God bless the pope.
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so shocked. god bless d pope and d church. all is well wit God. i pray for more spiritual growth in d church by d nxt pope
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More detail on the German government's response:
German government "moved" by Pope Benedict's resignation
BERLIN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The German government said it was "moved and touched" by the surprise resignation of German-born Pope Benedict on Monday.
"As a Christian and as a Catholic, one can't help but be moved and touched by this," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said at a regular government news conference.
"The German government has the highest respect for the Holy Father, for what he has done, for his contributions over the course of his life to the Catholic church. He has been at the head of the Catholic Church for nearly eight years. He has left a very personal signature as a thinker at the head of the Church, and also as a shepherd. Whatever the reasons for this decision, they must be respected," Seibert added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to make a statement on the matter at 2.30 p.m. (1330 GMT). -
Vatican spokesman says Pope "took us by surprise", indicating that even closest aides did not know.
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A selection of "quite interesting" things about popes/the papacy from 'QI'.
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Vatican spokesman says Pope will remain "in full charge" of church until 1900 GMT, 28 February, that the resignation is in full compliance with church law and that the decision was taken freely.
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The news was shocking.This is the time the world should pray more for the Church. God bless the Pope. Amen
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Our latest write-up:
Benedict to resign, first pontiff since Middle Ages to quit
By Philip Pullella
ROME, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, said on Monday he will resign on Feb 28. because he no longer has the strength to fulfil the duties of his office, becoming the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to take such a step.
The 85-year-old German-born Pope, hailed as a hero by conservative Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months.
His papacy has been beset by a child sexual abuse crisis that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.
In a statement, the pope said in order to govern "...both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.
"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter," he said according to a statement from the Vatican.
A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff would step down from 1900 GMT on Feb. 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor was chosen to Benedict who succeeded John Paul, one of history's most popular pontiffs.
Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78 -- 20 years older than John Paul was when he was elected -- he ruled over a slower-paced, more cerebral and less impulsive Vatican.
But while conservatives cheered him for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, his critics accused him of turning back the clock on reforms by nearly half a century and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.
Before he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.
(Reporting by Steve Scherer; editing by Janet McBride and Peter Millership) -
Vatican spokesman says Pope not resigning because of "difficulties in papacy".
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Vatican spokesman says Pope decision left aides "incredulous".
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Pope will go to papal summer residence near Rome after resigning, and will then move to cloistered residence in the Vatican - Vatican spokesman
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Spokesman says Pope will not take part in conclave to elect successor.
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Vatican spokesman says he expects new pope to be elected before the end of March.
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It’s been almost 600 years since a Pope resigned.
Pope Gregory XII stepped down in 1415 to end the “Western Schism”. When two claimants declared themselves Pope (one in Avignon and the other in Pisa), Gregory resigned and thus helped keep the Roman Catholic Church united.
Prior to this, Pope Celestine V changed the rules and made it possible for Bishops of Rome to resign. He then decided to make good use of his own solemn decree, and lived out his life as an aged hermit. Interestingly, another of the few Popes to resign was also called Benedict. Benedict IX resigned in 1045, selling the position to his godfather so he could marry.
Gregory VI, the man who purchased the papacy from Benedict IX, resigned the following year.
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