Vatican Annouces Pope to Resign

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican announced Monday morning Pope Benedict XVI will resign February 28 due to health concerns.

A new pope could be elected before the end of March.

The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday morning.

“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 spiriual nature, must be carried out not only by words and deeds but no less with prayer and suffering.