Current Affairs - Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

CNN: In an unexpected move, Pope Benedict XVI -- born Joseph Ratzinger -- has announced that he is to resign. Benedict was elected pope in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II. In his statement, Pope Benedict -- who turns 86 in April -- said he had come to the certainty "that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry." Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Pope Benedict had the right and potentially the duty to resign. But he stressed that the pope's decision was not because of any external pressure. The pope said that he would step down at 8:00 p.m. on February 28, Rome time. A meeting of the College of Cardinals to elect the next pope will be held. The gathering is known as a "conclave." Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said there would be elections some time in March and he anticipated that there would be a new pope before Easter. It is the first time a pope has resigned in nearly 600 years. The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. He stepped down to end the "Great Western Schism" -- during which there were rival claims to the papal throne. According to the National Catholic Weekly, modern popes have felt that resignation is unacceptable and could encourage factions within the church to pressure pontiffs to step down. Canon law states that a resignation must be made freely and properly manifested and that the pope resigning must be of sound mind. According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Pope Benedict will return to being known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once he has stepped down as pope. He will be addressed as his eminence or Cardinal Ratzinger.

When the Pope (Benedict XVI) is in Rome he blessed the crowds (in 7 languages, do you know them?) in Piazza San Pietro every Sunday at noon. The event is also recorded, this is from June 17 2012:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr3RHSBmMbI

Taken in: Città del Vaticano / Città del Vaticano (show map)

Taken on: June 17, 2012

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Sets appears in: • Italy • Humans

Groups appears in: • Show ur Snaps • I know where you are

Camera: Canon EOS 550D, f/5.6, 1/500 sec, 85mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 550D
Lens:	EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	85mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6 (Windows)
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