ROME: Pope Benedict XVI announced on Monday that he will step down on Feb 28, saying that he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his office.
The 85-year-old German-born Pope announced his decision in a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning. Pope Benedict XVI, who became Pope in 2005 following John Paul II’s death, said “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.”
“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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me,” he said.
At 78, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was one of the oldest new popes in history when elected. He took the helm as one of the fiercest storms the Catholic Church has faced in decades – the scandal of child sex abuse by priests – was breaking.
A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff will resign at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on February 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor is chosen.
DND
