Pope Benedict XVI to resign Feb. 28

VATICAN,(ST)_Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month, saying that he is too old to continue at the age 85.

In a statement, the pontiff said: “ After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainly that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. 

According to BBC, the statement added: “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.”

Resignations from the papacy are not unknown, but this is the first in the modern era, which has been marked by pontiffs dying while in office.

At 78, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was one of the oldest new popes in history when elected.

B.Q