• His "advanced age" (he is 85) means he is no longer able to carry out all his tasks adequately.
• Both strength in mind and body are necessary for the job of pope, he says, and in the last few months such strength has deteriorated in him.
He also announced in the statement that he would renounce the office of Bishop of Rome at 8pm on 28 February.
He says a conclave will have to be convened to elect the new pope.
And he says he wishes to continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer".
The full text of the Pope's message from the Vatican Radio reads,
'' Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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
- Juanita Marino likes this.
- Olubobokun Victor Jide @Endy no justification even sermon are preached on the sick Bed till death closes his eyes.
- Edobor John Pop john pual was not resign untill he die at d age of 94.and secondary did moses in d bible resign from his assiment untill he die at d age of 120
- Lugard Christopher wow... Dats luvly... May God continue 2 strengthen him more n reward his 4 his service in God's vineyard
- Obinna Obi Resigning from active service doesn't mean resignatn from spiritual things.God Bless our Pope and the papalcy.
