Why did Pope Benedict XVI retire?

Answer 1

A:

When Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement, he indicated that his health was the main factor and he felt the Church needed a younger pope who could lead the Church. However, La Repubblica claims that the real reason for Pope Benedict's resignation is the receipt of the report from an inquiry led by Cardinal Herranz. The report allegedly contains serious accounts of blackmail, corruption and gay sex in the Vatican itself. Another view is that Benedict knew that during the last years of previous popes, political infighting took over, to the detriment of the Church; he retired early in order to avoid this.

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AnswerPope Benedict XVI did NOT retire, actually there is no way to retire from being Pope. He renounced the Papacy - a very different matter from retiring. Here is his official announcement:

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28, 2013. . The following is the full text of Benedict's declaration:

　

"Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. 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.

　

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."
Pope Benedict XVI did NOT retire, he renounced the Chair of Peter, an entirely different thing; here in his own words is his explanation:

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28, 2013. . The following is the full text of Benedict's declaration:

　

"Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. 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.

　

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."

Answer 2

No, actually Pope Benedict XVI is the first Pope to resign in 600 years. I actually forget the last Pope to resign, but Benedict was not the first.

There have been two prior popes who resigned. The last most recent was Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

The other papal resignation was Pope Saint Celestine V who abdicated in 1294.

Answer 3

He retired due to advancing years and lack of the necessary stamina to carry out the responsibilities of the papacy. Doctors have stated that he is in excellent health for his age.