VATICAN: The Holy Father POPE BENEDICT XVI Announces Resignation
Pope Benedict XVI has announced his resignation. Here is the full text of his statement from the Vatican:
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.
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.
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.
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 steer the boat 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.
and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in
order to steer the boat 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.
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 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.
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.
