• Benedict cites old age, steps down Feb. 28
• New Pontiff emerges before March 31
IT was a stunning decision that was made more dramatic because of its unexpectedness: Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement Monday that he would resign.
The 85-year-old Pope, who served the notice just two days to Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of 40 days fasting by his one billion faithful worldwide, leading to Easter, cited old age for his resignation. This is happening for the first time in about 600 years when a similar step was taken by Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
The development paved the way for bookmakers yesterday to tip Peter Turkson of Ghana and Marc Ouellet of Canada as among the cardinals likely to take over from Pope Benedict XVI.
The German-born Pope said he would step down on February 28, which will make him the first Pontiff to resign in centuries.
“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,” the Pope said in a speech delivered in Latin at a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican.
Dressed in red vestments and his voice barely audible as he read from a written text, the Pope made the announcement in a hall in his residence - the Apostolic Palace next to St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said he expected a conclave of cardinals to be held in March within 15 or 20 days of the resignation and a new Pope elected before Easter Sunday on March 31.
Benedict, an academic theologian who has written numerous books, including a trilogy on the life of Jesus Christ that he completed last Christmas, will retire to a monastery within the Vatican walls.
“In order to govern the ship 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,” the Pope said.
“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 April 19, 2005, in such a way, that as from February 28, 2013 at 20:00 hours (1900 GMT), 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,” he said.
http://nigeriannews.com/
• New Pontiff emerges before March 31
IT was a stunning decision that was made more dramatic because of its unexpectedness: Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement Monday that he would resign.
The 85-year-old Pope, who served the notice just two days to Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of 40 days fasting by his one billion faithful worldwide, leading to Easter, cited old age for his resignation. This is happening for the first time in about 600 years when a similar step was taken by Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
The development paved the way for bookmakers yesterday to tip Peter Turkson of Ghana and Marc Ouellet of Canada as among the cardinals likely to take over from Pope Benedict XVI.
The German-born Pope said he would step down on February 28, which will make him the first Pontiff to resign in centuries.
“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,” the Pope said in a speech delivered in Latin at a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican.
Dressed in red vestments and his voice barely audible as he read from a written text, the Pope made the announcement in a hall in his residence - the Apostolic Palace next to St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said he expected a conclave of cardinals to be held in March within 15 or 20 days of the resignation and a new Pope elected before Easter Sunday on March 31.
Benedict, an academic theologian who has written numerous books, including a trilogy on the life of Jesus Christ that he completed last Christmas, will retire to a monastery within the Vatican walls.
“In order to govern the ship 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,” the Pope said.
“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 April 19, 2005, in such a way, that as from February 28, 2013 at 20:00 hours (1900 GMT), 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,” he said.
http://nigeriannews.com/
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