Benedict XVI leaves the papacy on February 28 for "lack of strength"

The Pope Benedict XVI announced that the papacy will next February 28 , during a meeting, according to news agency Ansa . The pope, 85, made ​​the decision "for lack of strength" because of his age. "After examining my conscience before God repeatedly, I have the certainty that the elderly because I have no strength to adequately perform the Petrine ministry , "he told the cardinals in Latin. "Being well aware of the seriousness of this act, in full freedom, declare that I give to the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter , (...) so that, from the February 28, 2013, at 20 : 00 , the see of Rome, the seat of San Pedro, become vacant and shall be called, by whom is competent, the conclave to elect the new pontiff , "he said, according to a statement. The agency AFP confirmed the information with statements of Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi: "The Pope has announced he will resign his ministry at 20 February 28." Joseph Ratzinger s and thus becomes the first pope to abdicate his pontificate since the fifteenth century . The last one was Gregory XII, in 1415, who did it "for the good of the Church" during the so-called schism from Rome, when three popes had proclaimed to the prelate. Two years ago, in an interview, Benedict had already admitted the possibility of leaving his duties at the Vatican. "When a Pope reaches the clear consciousness of not being well physically and spiritually to carry out the task entrusted, then has the right and in some circumstances the duty to resign , "he said on that occasion. In his last message to Twitter, Benedict wrote: "Let us always in the power of God's mercy. We are all sinners, but His grace transforms and renews our life ". Benedict XVI, born in Germany in 1927,  was elected the 265th pope on April 19, 2005, after the death of John Paul II. There are no clear candidates to succeed him, but a name that sounds strong in the Italian press is Angelo Scola .