Pope Benedict XVI to resign on Feb 28 due to health reasons
The Vatican announced that the transition period between a new Pope taking over will be "as brief as possible".
Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, hailing from Bavaria, was elected in a papal conclave here on Apr 19, 2005.
Here is the full text of the Pope's declaration that was issued this afternoon:
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
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
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