On February 11, 2013, Pope Raztinger's resignation shocked the world.
The news, given by ANSA with
a FLASH at 11:46
, became breaking news on all continents.
First the Reuters agency, then CNN and then al Arabiya, France Presse, the British Telegraph and BBC and Sky News relaunched it even before confirmation from the Vatican arrived.
Pope Ratzinger's speech: "I feel the weight of the task"
Here is the news from the ANSA Archives:
11:46
am +++ FLASH +++ POPE LEAVES PONTIFICATE FROM 2/28 +++ FLASH +++
11:48
am ++ POPE RESIGNS FROM PONTIFICATE ++
The Pope leaves his pontificate from 28 February.
He announced it personally, in Latin, during the consistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto.
12:00
++ POPE: I FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE ASSIGNMENT, I LEAVE THE CHURCH FOR THE GOOD ++
The Pope explained that he feels the weight of the office of pontiff, that he has meditated on this decision for a long time and that he has taken it for the good of the church.
12:02 pm
++ THE POPE HAS REQUESTED CONCLAVE FOR SUCCESSOR ++
The Pope has indicated February 28 as the end of his pontificate and asked that a conclave be indicated for the election of his successor.
12:23
pm ++POPE: LEAVING FOR 'INGRAVESCENTEM AETATEM' ++
The ''ingravescentem aetatem'', i.e. advanced age.
This is among the reasons given by Benedict XVI for his resignation.
His decision, announced in Latin before the college of cardinals and the papal household gathered for a canonization consistory, was received in the deepest silence and with bewilderment.
Compliments from the New York Times: he understood the Latin ad
Then began the conclave that led to the
election of Pope Francis
on March 13, 2013 .
In those days the
photo of the lightning strike on St. Peter
's went around the world: it was taken by an ANSA photographer
