The pope says it is because of advanced age and diminishing strength. A new pope could be elected by the end of March. Diocese of Allentown Bishop John Barres recalls meeting with the pope.
The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will resign on Feb. 28. the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals this morning.
As Catholic school students in Phillipsburg prayed for the pope's health, the bishop of the Diocese of Allentown said the decision must have come from "deep contemplative prayer."
The pope said that because of his advanced age and diminishing strength, he didn't feel he could carry on the job.
He emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope — the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide — requires “both strength of mind and body.”
“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,” he told the cardinals. “I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only by 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 govern the bark of St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary — strengths which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”
The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
Benedict called his choice “a decision of great importance for the life of the church.”
Diocese of Allentown Bishop John Barres said the timing of the pope's announcement is significant.
“Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign on Feb. 28th is a decision that he made with great serenity and deep contemplative prayer," Barres said this morning in a statement. "This is an act of great courage and humility. It speaks to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the person of the pope. It is also no coincidence that he picked today, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and World Day of the Sick, to announce he’s stepping down due to failing health."
Barres said the pope has had a long and distinguished career serving the Catholic Church.
"The magnitude of his contributions and influence as a young systematic theologian at the Second Vatican Council, a liturgical and biblical theologian, archbishop of Munich, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Pope John Paul II’s closest collaborator, and then pope, will only be understood and fully appreciated over time," Barres said. "His contemplative serenity and radiant joy as the Vicar of Christ has inspired the entire world."
Barres met then-Cardinal Ratzinger many years ago in Rome.
"I have a wonderful memory of going to the North American College in Rome during my graduate student priest days. As I walked down the Janiculum Hill one night, I came upon then-Cardinal Ratzinger who was walking up the hill on the other side of the street. He gave me this radiant smile after his long day and waved. It touched me deeply."
They would meet again.
"In December 2011, at the Pennsylvania Bishops Ad Limina visit, we had a wonderful and animated discussion with Pope Benedict and I had the opportunity to thank him personally for his recent catechesis on prayer in which he teaches the universal church the importance of sacrificing deeply to pray deeply," Barres said.
"On behalf of the entire Diocese of Allentown, I offer our prayers to Pope Benedict XVI as he prepares for his well-deserved retirement. And together we pray to the Holy Spirit for the selection of his successor."
Students at Sts. Philip and James School in Phillipsburg prayed for the pope during an assembly this morning in the gym.
Principal Judith Francisco said more than 200 students and staff said 10 Hail Mary's each for the pope's health. Students appeared confused, she said, since they are taught a pope stays in that role for life.
Following the prayer service, students, most carrying their rosaries, walked quietly in their school uniforms, single file, back to their classrooms. Religion teachers will be discussing the details of a reappointment in classes, Francisco said.
While Francisco said she is not happy that the pope is leaving, she understands that his decision was made for a reason, even though the details may not be readily apparent.
"It has to be the right thing to do, no matter how we feel about it," she said. "I'm sure it was not a split-second decision. I'm sure he's been praying about it."