"Pope Benedict XVI shocked Catholics around the world Monday by saying that he no longer had the mental or physical strength to carry out his job and would become the first pope since the Middle Ages to give up the title.
The pope, speaking in Latin, informed a small gathering of cardinals at the Vatican of his decision. THe abdication will take effect on Feb. 28 and cardinals could gather as early as March to elect a successor.
Benedict, 85, said later in a statement that the papacy required "strength of mind and body," and that both had deteriorated in recent months. He said that he had made the decision "after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God."
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