The Pope will resign on Feb. 28, he said Monday, citing his lacking the strength to continue in his mission, the Vatican has confirmed.
The announcement had been totally unexpected, and was made during a small ceremony in the Vatican. The Pope delivered the message in Latin, and cited his "advanced age."
The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 85, became Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005, following the death of John Paul II.
While resignations from the papacy are not unknown, this is the first to be taking place in the modern era. The last abdication took place in 1296.
The Pope Announces His Resignation
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The Pope Announces His Resignation
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The Pope Announces His Resignation
