Dad Benedict XVI he will leave the pontificate on 28 February. He announced it personally, in Latin, during the consistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto. The news, released by the Ansa news agency, was confirmed by the Vatican.
"A bolt from the blue". With these words the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano commented on the decision.
Also according to Ansa, the Pope would have explained that he felt the weight of the office of pontiff, that he had meditated on this decision for a long time and that he had taken it for the good of the Church.
Ratzinger became pontiff on April 19, 2005: he is the 265th pope of the Catholic Church.
