Pope resigns for health reasons

All-Ireland Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, has said that the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is a profound act of humility. Reacting to confirmation of the resignation by the Vatican today, Cardinal Brady said it was a conscientious and responsible decision to hand over the ministry of the successor of St Peter in a time of great challenge for the Church and for faith in the modern world. Laragh native Cardinal Brady himself is due to retire when he turns 75 in August 2014. Cardinal Brady said he expected to have a vote in the conclave to elect the next Pope and said he was praying for strength and guidance in making his decision. The Conclave to elect a new Pope is expected to be held before the end of March, while Pope Benedict will step down on February 28. In a statement, Benedict said: "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. "For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is." Pope Benedict became the 265th pope in 2005 at the age of 78. The now 85-year-old Pontiff suffers with arthritis, particularly in his knees, hips and ankles. He is the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. 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.