VATICAN CITY
NBC News
By Claudio Lavanga and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News
Updated at 6:36 a.m. ET: ROME — Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he will resign on February 28 because of his failing health, saying he no longer has the strength to carry out his duties.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision during an address, in Latin, at the “Concistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto”, a small event held in the early morning.
The decision, which appeared to take even the Vatican by surprise, makes him the the first pope to resign since at least 1415.
His statement was posted on the Vatican Radio website.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.