Pope Benedict XVI to Resign for Health Reasons
The Vatican announces that he will step down on Feb. 28.
Pope Benedict XVI announced on Monday that he will resign effective Feb. 28, The Associated Press is reporting. According to The AP, the 85-year-old pontiff announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning, citing his "advanced age and diminishing strength." The pope, leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide, including those at Baldwin Borough's Saint Albert the Great and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary churches and Whitehall Borough's St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church and Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God campus, emphasized that the duties require "both strength of mind and body." The Rev. James Orr, pastor at Saint Albert's, reacted to the news. "Pope Benedict's …
In this Article:
Robert Edward Healy, III
11:27 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Rev. James Orr, pastor at Saint Albert's, reacted to the news. "Pope Benedict's abdication is one more sign of his personal humility," Rev. Orr said. "Behind the scenes, before he was Pope and after, he was known for the way he treated anyone with deference. "Power is not what is important to him but being a true follower of Jesus who 'came to serve, not to be served.' It is also a 'sign of … more ›