Benedict XVI Becomes the First Pope to Resign in 600 Years

On the morning of 11 February 2013, cardinals gathered in the Apostolic Palace for a consistory on upcoming canonizations, including a group of martyrs, and received unexpected news. Pope Benedict XVI addressed the assembly in Latin, announcing his intention to abdicate the papacy on 28 February at eight in the evening. He explained that due to his advanced age of eighty-five, his physical and mental strength had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer properly fulfill the duties of his ministry. Under canon law, a papal resignation must be made freely, and Benedict affirmed that he was making the decision with complete autonomy.

The declaration startled the Roman Catholic Church and the wider public, as modern pontiffs had held office until death. The last pope to step down had been Gregory XII in 1415, whose resignation helped resolve the Western Schism, and before that Celestine V in 1294. Journalists who understood Latin first broke the report, which quickly prompted statements from religious figures and political heads of state worldwide. While political leaders praised his service, church figures expressed surprise, and some pointed out that the 1983 Code of Canon Law expressly provides for a pope to resign.