Pope Benedict XVI announces resignation
Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, that he will resign on Feb. 28. The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals. Pope Benedict XVI who was elected pope in the 2005 conclave, is stepping down on Feb. 28, becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. When he became pope at age 78, Benedict XVI was already the oldest pontiff elected in nearly 300 years. The conclave to elect a new pope must begin 15-20 days after Benedict's resignation.
Section:Picture story
In this summer 1952 photo provided by the German Catholic News Agency KNA, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, center, celebrates Mass in the mountains of Ruhpolding, southern Germany. Ratzinger went on to be elected pope in 2005, assuming the name of Benedict XVI.
KNA, file Associated Press
In this September 1978 file photo provided by the German Catholic News Agency KNA, Albanian-born Mother Teresa, left, and German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, right, attend a Mass during the 85th German Catholics Day in Freiburg, southern Germany, from Sept. 13-19, 1978. Ratzinger was elected Pope, April 19, 2005 and chose Benedict XVI as his papal name.
KNA, file Associated Press
In this 1979 file photo, Pope John Paul II, left, poses with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Munich, who was named on Nov. 25, 1981, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission, the former Holy Office. Ratzinger was elected Pope, April 19, 2005 and chose Benedict XVI as his papal name.
File Associated Press
This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican.
Domenico Stinellis, file Associated Press
This April 24, 2005 file photo shows thousands of people attending the installment Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican.
Gregorio Borgia, file Associated Press
In this Sunday, Sunday, April 24, 2005 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI waves as he rides on the Popemobile through St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, following his installment Mass.
Andrew Medichini, file Associated Press
In this May 28, 2006 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI walks through the gate of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, to pay his respects to the Holocaust victims. Sign at left reads “stop” in German and Polish. Sign above the gate reads “Arbeit macht frei,” German for “work will set you free.”
Diether Endlicher, file Associated Press
In this May 10, 2007 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI reacts while looking at fireworks during an event at the Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Silvia Izquierdo, file Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 file photo, a gust of wind blows away Pope Benedict XVI’s cap as he delivers his message during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
Pier Paolo Cito, file Associated Press
In this Tuesday, May 12, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI places a note in the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, in Jerusalem’s Old City.
David Silverman, file Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI, standing at center, waves from his popemobile on his way to the Spanish Steps in central Rome, for the traditional prayer before a statue of the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception.
Andrew Medichini, file Associated Press
In this Thursday, March 25, 2010 file photo Pope Benedict XVI gestures from his popemobile as he leaves a youth gathering, in St. Peter’s square, at the Vatican.
Gregorio Borgia, file Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, right, and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, hug each other after the pontiff announced during the meeting of Vatican cardinals that he would resign on Feb. 28, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.
L’Osservatore Romano, ho Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing at the end of a meeting of Vatican cardinals, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.
L’Osservatore Romano, ho Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, center, leaves after attending a meeting of Vatican cardinals where he read a document in Latin in which he announced his resignation, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.
L’Osservatore Romano, ho Associated Press
The icon of Pope Benedict XVI is lit inside St. Paul outside the Walls Basilica in Rome, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.
Gregorio Borgia Associated Press
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