Italian Press Agency Reports Pope Resigns

[Antigone]

From the BBC:

The Pope is to resign at the end of this month in an entirely unexpected development, reports from the Vatican say.
The 85-year-old became Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II.

More news to follow.

EDIT: More information and livefeed here.

 

[S.ilvio]

Wow, that is a shock but I wish him every happiness and a long and healthy retirement...

 

[Anhelyna]

I wonder when the last time a Pope announced his resignation ?

I also pray that he has many years in retirement

 

[S.ilvio]

I wonder when the last time a Pope announced his resignation ?

One source tells me it was Gregory XII in 1400s but I'm not confirming that as of yet.

This really is a curve ball for the Vatican and beyond...

 

[WisdomTree]

He never did want to become Pope in the first place, but he answered God's calling and did his job. I hope he has a peaceful retirement.

 

[Antigone]

Rumours (which, this time, I am inclined to believe) have it the Pope has chosen to resign because his health is failing.

 

[Mess]

I wonder when the last time a Pope announced his resignation ?

I also pray that he has many years in retirement

1295, Celestine V, at least that was reported by Dutch media.

 

[Antigone]

The full text from 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

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

source

 

[Antigone]

1295, Celestine V, at least that was reported by Dutch media.

The Guardian says that the last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

I am somewhat taken aback at the speed with which this is happening. He was opening up twitter accounts months ago and now he's resigning before the month is out? That's surprising.

 

[Anhelyna]

The next few weeks are going to be very interesting

 

[MKJ]

I wondered if he got some bad news about his health, that it is going to get worse, that made him decide so suddenly, rather than just a general feeling of not being able to keep up.

 

[Antigone]

I wondered if he got some bad news about his health, that it is going to get worse, that made him decide so suddenly, rather than just a general feeling of not being able to keep up.

That's what I was wondering too, because other popes have been ill and kept going. One disease in particular came to mind, but I don't want to spread any rumours so I'll keep it to myself.

 

[Yoder777]

What about St. Malachy's prophecy of the popes? Is it coming true?

 

[ZaidaBoBaida]

My understanding is that many people think Malachy's supposed vision was, in fact, a fake. The vatican certainly hasn't recognized it.

But, even if this supposed prophecy supposedly ends with the next pope all that means is that is far as his vision went - not that the world is going to end or some such. It holds about as much water as the Mayan calandar thing.

 

[Winter]

I wondered if he got some bad news about his health, that it is going to get worse, that made him decide so suddenly, rather than just a general feeling of not being able to keep up.

That's a good point. Because I just can't see a pope resigning from illness. For 600 years I'm sure every Pope had an illness towards the very end. Even Pope John Paul could barely talk or walk but he trecked on. It can be like you said, something even worse than that, or possibly fatal.

 

[Yoder777]

What does this resignation possibly have to do with the Vatileaks scandal?

 

[Irish Melkite]

Has anyone considered that it is a choice made of wisdom - that he is elderly and frail, understands that the Church is bigger and more important than any one man, and has the personal humility to have concluded that he should step aside in the interests of the Church being led by someone more physically vital?

Many years,

Neil

 

[S.ilvio]

Has anyone considered that it is a choice made of wisdom - that he is elderly and frail, understands that the Church is bigger and more important than any one man, and has the personal humility to have concluded that he should step aside in the interests of the Church being led by someone more physically vital?

Many years,

Neil

Thats what his letter clearly suggests and we've no concrete reason not to believe it to be so...

 

[Antigone]

Well, this just turned up on my facebook feed:

That was quick.

 

[Anhelyna]

oh yes - and Face Ache is supposed to be a reliable source of gossip ?