Breaking News: Pope Benedict XVI to resign on February 28

Pope Benedict XVI, the spiritual leader of Christians, says he intends to resign from his position on February 28, Italian news agency ANSA reports, without providing any further details, yet.

[Source]

Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI on Monday announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries.

“The pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00pm (1900 GMT) on February 28,” said the spokesman, Federico Lombardi.

Pope Benedict XVI said he was stepping down as head of the Church because he lacks the strength to govern due to his age.

“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,” the 85-year-old pope told a meeting of cardinals.

“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 fulfill the ministry entrusted to me,” he said.

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2013-02-11 05:33:16

Source: http://philosophers-stone.co.uk/wordpress/2013/02/pope-benedict-xvi-to-resign-on-february-28/