![A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. On 10 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced that he will resign the papacy on 28 February due to age and ill health,[3] becoming the first pope to resign since 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since 1294](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/bd/a9/1360608540_7608_Pope4.jpg?itok=a9YdRxoj "A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. On 10 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced that he will resign the papacy on 28 February due to age and ill health,[3] becoming the first pope to resign since 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since 1294"){kind=small}
![Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; Spanish: Benedicto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927) is the 265th Pope,[2] a position in which he serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/f2/8c/1360608540_8236_Pope1.jpg?itok=S4EON2nV "Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; Spanish: Benedicto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927) is the 265th Pope,[2] a position in which he serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church."){kind=small}
Pope Benedict XVI made a statement on Monday that he will be resigning on Feb. 28. The pope told news media that because of his advanced age and decreasing strength, he didn't feel he could continue with the job.
Pope Benedict XVI is the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years.
According to ABC News here in San Francisco the pope no longer felt up to the job:
"The 85-year-old emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope and leading more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide requires both strength of mind and body. He says in the last few months, his health has deteriorated to the extent that he says he has recognized his incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to him."
The pope himself said in Latin to the Vatican cardinals:
"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 by words and deeds but no less with prayer and suffering."
The pope has been told not to make any more trips overseas as his walking is difficult. The pope's brother tells press that the thought of stepping down has been on the pope's mind for some time.
San Francisco resident, Alice Marshall, says: "I can understand that he wants to step down. It's a huge job with a huge responsibility. I wish him all the best."
So what happens now?
According to ABC News in San Francisco:
"The Vatican will hold a conclave to elect a new pope by mid-March, since the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope doesn't have to be observed."
There is nobody who is an obvious front runner but there are several contenders. Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.
Click here to see Sheila's article on the official announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation.
Source: ABC 7 News
See the photos of the pope in the slideshow.
See these other articles by Sheila:
Pope Benedict XVI to say mass in St. Peter's Basilica (photos, video) (Photos)
![Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; Spanish: Benedicto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927) is the 265th Pope,[2] a position in which he serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/f2/8c/1360608540_8236_Pope1.jpg?itok=qBwsfbyC "Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; Spanish: Benedicto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927) is the 265th Pope,[2] a position in which he serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church.")
![A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. On 10 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced that he will resign the papacy on 28 February due to age and ill health,[3] becoming the first pope to resign since 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since 1294](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/bd/a9/1360608540_7608_Pope4.jpg?itok=lnYk6Kan "A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. On 10 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced that he will resign the papacy on 28 February due to age and ill health,[3] becoming the first pope to resign since 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since 1294")
![Prior to becoming Pope, he was "a major figure on the Vatican stage for a quarter of a century" as "one of the most respected, influential and controversial members of the College of Cardinals"; he had an influence "second to none when it came to setting church priorities and directions" as one of Pope John Paul II's closest confidants.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/b0/25/1360608578_9732_Pope8.jpg?itok=6afv5uF4 "Prior to becoming Pope, he was "a major figure on the Vatican stage for a quarter of a century" as "one of the most respected, influential and controversial members of the College of Cardinals"; he had an influence "second to none when it came to setting church priorities and directions" as one of Pope John Paul II's closest confidants.")
![Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI is theologically conservative in his teaching and his prolific[7] writings defend traditional Catholic doctrine and values. During his papacy, Benedict XVI has advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/22/87/2287fe9e39d292853af8420636e0b90e.jpg?itok=ZzQwqDPL "Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI is theologically conservative in his teaching and his prolific[7] writings defend traditional Catholic doctrine and values. During his papacy, Benedict XVI has advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries.")
Comments