Shock for Catholic Church as Pope Benedict XVI resigns

Pope Benedict XVI has made the shock annoucement that he is to resign at the end of this month, saying he is too old continue at the age of 85. He will step down after almost eight years in the post, having been elected in April 2005 following the death of John Paul II.

He will be the first head of the Catholic Church to resign in almost 600 years and the Vatican said his departure would leave the post temporarily vacant.

The 85-year-old's resignation letter 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.

"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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me."

Pope Benedict XVI took the helm as the scandal of child sex abuse by priests was breaking, which is one of the fiercest storms that the Catholic Church has faced in decades. 

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