Monday, February 11, 2013

Pope Benedict Says He'll Retire at End of Month; Feels Poor Health Hinders His Ability to Be Pope

Pope Benedict XVI was cheered by conservatives for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, but liberals accused him of turning back the clock on reforms and hurting dialogue with non-Catholic Christians, Muslims, and Jews, according to the Reuters website.

The 85-year-old German-born pontiff announced today (February 11, 2013) that he will be stepping down at the end of this month because the effects of old age meant he would be unable to effectively complete his ministry.

Benedict enjoyed relatively good health most of his life, but the first clear sign that he was slowing down occurred in October 2011, when he began using a wheeled platform to move in the main aisle of St. Peter's Basilica.

In a book in 2010, Benedict said he would not hesitate to become the first pontiff to resign willingly in more than 700 years, if he felt himself no longer able, "physically, psychologically, and spiritually" to run the Roman Catholic Church.

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