Today, the Catholic Church was thrown into shock when Pope Benedict announced he will be resigning from his duty on February 28, 2013 due to health issues. The pontief resignation came to many as a shock becasue he is the first pope to resign in 600 years.
Gregory XII was the last Pope to resign his duties in 1415.
Announcing his decision in a meeting of Vatican cardinals this morning the 85 years old pope Pope said he longer have the ‘strength of mind and body’ to continue leading more than a billion Roman Catholics in the world.
Since the traditional time for mourning is not required in this case as the Pope is still alive, this will give him some time to hold a conclave before Easter in order to elect a new pope.
Contenders in line to become the next Pope includes Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson.If he gets elected, he will be the first black man to become the Catholic’s Pope.
Speaking in one of the Vatican’s state rooms, the Pope today told 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.Â
‘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 barque of St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary – strengths 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.’
