FINAL PART OF THE LETTER OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

And now , let us enthrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme
Pastor , Our Lord Jesus Christ , and implore his Holy Mother , 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 future through a life
dedicated to prayer.

PART 2 OF MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

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 fulfill the Ministry enthrusted
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 the
Bishop of Rome , successor of Saint Peter , enthrusted 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.

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.