POPE BENEDICT ON HIS RESIGNATION AS POPE OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

In February 2013 Pope Benedict XVI made Historic Statement to the World. On need for him to step down as Pope Of Roman Catholic Church. The World received the following Papal Statement with Mixed Emotions. A Pope had 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 from Papal Office 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. 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. 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". Pope Francis , present Supreme Pontiff , was later elected by College of Cardinals to succeed Pope Benedict XV. Pope John Paul II was , after his death , succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI on April 19 , 2005.