From the Lope de Vega International School, we wish to express our gratitude to His Holiness Benedict XVI for his service to the Catholic Church and to the entire world. Through his teachings and guidance, he has left us a precious legacy for facing the challenges of our world today with truth. A few years ago, he wholeheartedly bestowed his Apostolic Blessing upon all of us who are part of this school. We now pray for him, and also that the Holy Spirit may grant His supernatural gifts to the cardinals, that they may elect the successor of Saint Peter according to the heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Words of Benedict XVI announcing his resignation:
Video in which he announces his resignation.
My dearest brothers and sisters:
I have called you to this Consistory, not only for the three causes of canonization, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.
After repeatedly examining my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that, due to my advanced age, I no longer have the strength to adequately exercise the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, by its spiritual nature, must be carried out not only through deeds and words, but also, and to no lesser degree, through suffering and prayer.
However, in today's world, subject to rapid transformations and shaken by issues of great importance to the life of faith, to govern the barque of St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, it is also necessary to have the vigor of both body and spirit, a vigor which, in recent months, has diminished in me to such an extent that I must acknowledge my inability to properly exercise the ministry that was entrusted to me.
Therefore, being fully aware of the seriousness of this act, with complete freedom, I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, which was entrusted to me by the Cardinals on April 19, 2005, so that, from February 28, 2013, at 8:00 p.m., the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and the conclave for the election of the new Supreme Pontiff must be convened by the competent authority.
My dearest brothers, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and work with which you have carried the weight of my ministry with me, and I ask forgiveness for all my shortcomings.
Now, we entrust the Church to the care of her Supreme Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and we beseech Mary, His Holy Mother, to assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal kindness in electing the new Supreme Pontiff. For my part, I too wish to serve the Holy Church of God wholeheartedly in the future with a life dedicated to prayer.
Vatican City, February 11, 2013
