New Orleans Archbishop reacts to the news of the Pope's resignation

Archbishop Aymond responds to news of pope's resignation

Vatican representative: Pope will resign Feb. 28

 

 

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Gregory Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS —Archbishop Gregory Aymond of the New Orleans Archdiocese responded Monday morning to the news that Pope Benedict XVI will resign Feb. 28.

• Pope resigning on Feb. 28

  

  Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.

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In a statement, Aymond said: "I have a great deal of admiration for Pope Benedict XVI and appreciate his recognition of the health issues he is facing. I admire his humility in asking the cardinals to come together in prayer to select his successor. I ask all Catholics to remember the Holy Father in prayer and to pray for the cardinals as they prepare for the conclave in order to select a successor for Pope Benedict XVI."

Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign 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 on Monday morning.

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.

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