Pope Benedict XVI pronounced at the Vatican on
Monday said he had decided to resign. This is the first time a Pope has
decided to step down in 600 years. He said he was resigning in “full
freedom” ,which is necessary ,and would devote the rest of his life to prayer. The Pope said
he no longer had “the strength of body or mind” to “fully serve the
Petrine Ministry.
Pope Benedict XVI, formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
before he assumed Pontifical office on 19 April 2005, made the
declaration in Latin, during a consistory in the Vatican.
The Holy See’s spokesperson, Father Federico Lombardi said the
resignation would go into effect at the end of the month. “The Pope has
announced he will give up his ministry at 8 pm on the 28th of February.
That is when the period known as “sede vacante” or the Empty Chair will
commence”. The next Pope will be elected before Easter which this year
falls on March 31. The voting could well begin during Holy Week which
begins on March 24.
