Vatican
City, 13 February 2013
(VIS) – Before his catechesis in the General Audience this morning,
the Holy Father spoke of his decision to leave the pontificate.
Interrupted by the applause of the crowd filling the Paul VI Hall he
said:
"As
you know, I have decided―thank
you for your kindness―to
renounce the ministry which the Lord entrusted to me on 19 April
2005. I have done this in full freedom for the good of the Church,
after much prayer and having examined my conscience before God,
knowing full well the seriousness of this act, but also realizing
that I am no longer able to carry out the Petrine ministry with the
strength which it demands. I am strengthened and reassured by the
certainty that the Church is Christ’s, who will never leave her
without his guidance and care. I thank all of you for the love and
for the prayers with which you have accompanied me. Thank you; in
these days which have not been easy for me, I have felt almost
physically the power of prayer―your
prayers―which the love of the
Church has given me. Continue to pray for me, for the Church, and for
the future Pope. The Lord will guide us."
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