Pope Benedict XVI on Monday announced that he will step down as head of the Catholic Church on February 28, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.
He is the first pontiff to step down since 1415. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope in 2005 after the death of John Paul II’s.
“After having 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 the Petrine ministry,” Benedict said in a statement.
“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.
A new Pope is expected to be elected before Easter at the end of March.
During his eight-year tenure, Benedict tried to guide the church through sexual abuse and financial scandals while seeking to strengthen conventional policy among the global ranks of over one billion faithful.
The next Pope will be selected by members of a 117-strong nominating meetingheld in the Sistine Chapel at Vatican.
