Breaking News:
Pope Benedict XVI, in an unprecedented move, has announced
that he will be resigning from the papal office on February 28, 2013.
Here is the Full text of the Pope's
declaration:
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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