Did the pope resign

Answer 1

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as Pope, from the Vatican today 11th February, 2013. His speech intimating his resignation, was given in Latin, he will leave office on 28th February, 2013. His announcement was greeted with shock from all corners of the world. Benedict XVI, who is 85, was appointed Pope in 2005 the 265th pontiff to be elected, following the death of the then Pontiff, Pope John Paul II. BenedictXVI was 78 on his appointment and was the oldest Pontiff to be elected for 300 years.

A Conclave (meeting) of College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church took place to "elect" the then Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pontiff. Cardinal Ratzinger, then took the name of Benedict XVI. He will have held office for only eight years. A Pope, once elected does not normally resign from "office" and has not done so in living memory. Only after the death of a pontiff, does this "trigger" an election for a new Pontiff. Benedict XVI now makes history, since the last Pontiff to resign and not to die in office was Pope Gregory XII, who resigned his pontifical office in 1415 A.D. BenedictXVI indicated the reason for his resignation was on health grounds, although no immediate health concerns were cited. A "conclave" will now be called and a new Pontiff elected by the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church, which is due to commence on the 18th March, 2013 with a new pontiff being elected by Easter, 2013.

Answer 2

The 85-year-old pope cited his age and declining strength as his reasons for stepping down, but here are his own words:

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28, 2013. . The following is the full text of Benedict'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."

Answer 3

Below I give you the Holy Father's own words, as he addressed the assembled Bishops and Cardinals, please remember in your prayers, this giant of a man who had the humility to do this for his God, and for us.

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 barque 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

Advanced age and lack of stamina to do the job properly.

He probably couldn't deal with all the stress of being the pope, and he didn't have the 'strength' to continue, so he decided to resign from the position.

Answer 4

Pope Benedict XVI resigned effective February 28, 2013.

Answer 5

Yes, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, 2013, effective February 28 of the same year.

Answer 6

He retired on February 28, 2013.

Answer 7

I don’t know