Pope to Resign, Leaving Local Visit Uncertain
Pope Benedict XVI was scheduled to visit Southeastern PA in 2015.
In a surprise overnight (Eastern Standard Time) announcement Pope Benedict XVI says he will resign on Feb. 28. It is the first time a Roman Catholic Pope has resigned in nearly 600 years. In an official statement posted on Vatican Radio's website, the 85-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Chuch cites fading strength and the demands of the job for his decision to step down. Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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 …
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