Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church has decided to resign from his post due to ill health, the Vatican has announced. Pope Benedict XVI has been the head of the Catholic Church for the past eight years. He is one of the oldest Roman Catholic popes to be elected in history.
(February 11, 2013) - Pope Benedict Resigns Pope Benedict XVI to Retire on Feb 28 2013 | Vatican confirms Resignation Pope Benedict XVI is to resign on February 28, the Vatican has announced. He will be the first head of the Catholic Church to resign in almost 600 years. The Vatican said his departure would leave the post temporarily vacant. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said: "The pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00pm (7pm UK time) on February 28." He will step down after almost eight years in the post, having been elected in April 2005. Edward Pentin, from the Catholic Herald, told Sky News: "It really is too early to say what his greatest achievement has been."
