Pope Benedict to Resign

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Pope Benedict XVI on his way to a Wednesday audience attended by University of Dayton students last year. Photo courtesy the University of Dayton.

Pope Benedict XVI announced Sunday that he would be the first pope since 1415 (or 1294, depending on how you count) to resign his office.

Pope since 2005, the German-born theologian is 85.

“…with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome…”

News agencies are reporting that the pope has been thinking about resigning for months because of increasing health problems, but many of those familiar with the Vatican, including Vatican staff, appear to have been caught by surprise. Many members of the Vatican Press Corps are off today because of a local holiday, indicating no rumors of the resignation.

Pope Benedict says he intends to resign Feb. 28, which means there will most likely be a new pope by Easter.

Here is the text of his announcement, delivered originally in Latin at a a meeting of cardinals, courtesy Vatican Radio:

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. 

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 

(Hear the announcement at the Vatican Radio site.)

Sacred Heart Radio will cover the story all day, with informed, all-Catholic sources from Rome and elsewhere. Tune in for details as they arise.

Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI from Our Sunday Visitor

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to
Your shepherd, Pope Benedict, a spirit of
courage and right judgment, a spirit of
knowledge and love.
By governing with fidelity those entrusted to
his care, may he, as successor to the apostle
Peter and Vicar of Christ, build Your Church
into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace
for all the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son,Who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, 
forever and ever. Amen.

(Click here to download a prayer card.)