CALIFORNIA
The Poly Post
Juan Madrigal, Staff Writer
Pope Benedict XVI surprised the entire world on Feb. 11 when he did what no pope had done in almost half a millennium. During a routine morning meeting, he shocked all the Vatican cardinals when he announced his resignation.
Whether people liked Benedict or not, his decision earned him a special place in history books.
Benedict’s papacy has been known for having many tumultuous moments, which have hurt the Catholic Church deeply and unceasingly.
During his papacy, Benedict had to confront all of the allegations and cases of sexual abuse of children by some of the clergy members. This bombshell not only affected those involved and the church, but also Benedict’s ability to effectively lead church leaders.
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.