Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
Date28 February 2013; 11 years ago (2013-02-28)
Time20:00 (CET)
CauseDeteriorating strength due to old age and the physical and mental demands of the papacy
Outcome

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took effect on 28 February 2013 at 20:00 CET, following his announcement of it on 11 February.[1][2][3] It made him the first pope to relinquish the office[note 1] since Gregory XII was forced to resign in 1415[4] to end the Western Schism, and the first pope to voluntarily resign since Celestine V in 1294.[5]

All other popes in the modern era have held the position from election until death.[6] Benedict resigned at the age of 85, citing declining health due to old age.[7] The conclave to select his successor began on 12 March 2013[8] and elected cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who took the name of Francis.

Benedict chose to be known as "Pope emeritus" upon his resignation, and he retained this title until his death in December 2022.[9][10]

  1. ^ Cullinane, Susannah (12 February 2013). "Pope Benedict XVI's resignation explained". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. ^ Davies, Lizzy; Hooper, John; Connelly, Kate (11 February 2013). "Pope Benedict XVI resigns due to age and declining health". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  3. ^ "BBC News – Benedict XVI: 10 things about the Pope's retirement". Bbc.co.uk. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. ^ Messia, Hada (11 February 2013). "Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  5. ^ de Souza, Raymond J. (12 February 2013). "The Holy Father takes his leave". The National Post. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI in shock resignation". BBC News. BBC. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference VatRadio_resign was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Conclave to begin Tuesday March 12th". Vatican Radio. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Benedict XVI will be 'Pope emeritus'". The Vatican Today. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013. Benedict XVI will be "Pontiff emeritus" or "Pope emeritus", as Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, reported in a press conference on the final days of the current pontificate. He will keep the name of "His Holiness, Benedict XVI" and will dress in a simple white cassock without the mozzetta (elbow-length cape).
  10. ^ Petin, Edward (26 February 2013). "Benedict's New Name: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman Pontiff Emeritus". Retrieved 23 June 2018.


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