HISTORIC MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI , ON HIS NEED TO STEP DOWN AS POPE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE WORLD RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING PAPAL STATEMENT , WITH MIXED
EMOTIONS. A POPE HAS NOT VOLUNTARILY ELECTED TO QUIT OFFICE , FOR THE
PAST 600 YEARS OF CHURCH HISTORY. THE SUPREME LEADER , GAVE OLD AGE OF
85 YEARS , POOR HEALTH , LACK OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AS
REASONS , FOR RESIGNING WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 28 , 2013. THE FULL
MESSAGE : 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. After
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 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.