Pope to resign on Feb. 28, first to do so in six centuries
An announcement made by Pope Benedict XVI Monday shook the Roman Catholic world to its roots. 'After examining my conscience before God I have come to the certainty that my strength, due to my advance age, are not suited to an adequate exercise of my position as head of Roman Catholic Church,' he said. Citing advanced age and infirmity, he informed that he would resign on Feb. 28. He would be the first pope to do so in six centuries.
According to Rev Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, Pope would continue his duties till Feb. 28 and that the successor could be elected by Easter which falls on March 31.
Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Aloisus Ratzinger was ordained priesthood in 1951 and was elected as
Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005. He was born on 16 April, 1927, Holy Saturday at Schulstrabe, Bavaria, Germany. Before assuming the highest seat at the German Christian Church as Archbishop of Munich and Freising, he was serving as professor of theology in several universities of Germany. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI. He last served at University of Rogensburg. Though he was not keeping well for quite some time but the timing of his announcement sent shock waves around the world. It has plunged the Roman Catholic
world into intense speculation about his successor.
In the early years of his papacy, Benedict strongly felt that Catholicism is ‘true’ and other religions are ‘deficient’. He had also felt that the modern, secular world, especially Europe, is spiritually weak. He abhorred homosexuality and was not in favor of female priesthood. He strongly disliked the idea of ‘stem cell research’.
The announcement of his abdication was made in Latin but it was translated in seven languages: Italian, French, English, German, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. It read as follows:
“In today’s world, subject to many rapid changes and shaken by the question of deep reverence for the life of the faith, in order to governing the barking St. Peter and proclaim the gospel, both strength and body are necessary, strength which in the last months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason and well aware of the seriousness of the act, with full freedom, I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter.
He was inclined towards far right and his departure would make it incumbent upon the new Pope to follow a conservative approach.
