Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation: Alexandria Catholics React
Catholic Church head is first Pope to step down in 600 years. What's your reaction and where does the church go from here?
Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he will step down from his position Feb. 28, citing failing strength of “mind and body." He will be the first pontiff to resign since 1415, the Washington Post reports. "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," the Pope 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. 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 …
