Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he would resign on Feb 28 — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning.
He emphasised that carrying out the duties of the pope — the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide — requires "both strength of mind and body".
"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," he told the cardinals. "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.
"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 St Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary - strengths which, in the last few months, have deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."
The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
Pope Benedict called his choice "a decision of great importance for the life of the church".
The move sets the stage for the Vatican to 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 are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner — the same situation when Benedict was elected pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.
my question always is that.why do catholic people, and pls if there is any good one in the house can you pls explain to me better why they always say peter was their first pope.the peter l read about in the bible was having a family remember when Jesus went to pray for his mother inlaw who was sick,each time l ask catholic people this question they get mad and want to be abusive even not interested in reading the bible.it make me to wonder what the foundation of their faith is.if is upon revelation on whom Jesus is; like peter knew, then the word of God should be their stand.my husband fight for catholic like mad even if you open the bible he will tell u is man that wrote the bible.but the bible is suppose to be our manual to follow.there is soo much to catholism l think.with what l am learning the next pope will order in one world religion.then true bible believing christains will be doom for,l pity those who are not rooted in God.s word or let me say follow follow christains the l feel alright type.l know l will be crucify for writing this.but a word for a thought.
Posted: at 12-02-2013 05:29 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming |
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