Pope Benedict XVI dies: look at his achievements and his controversies 4:22
(CNN Spanish) --
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany, who became Pope Benedict XVI, died on December 31 at the age of 95.
Ratzinger was elected the 265th pope in the history of the Catholic Church on April 19, 2005, after 115 cardinals voted for him following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Benedict XVI held the position from 2005 until 2013, when he announced his retirement as pontiff, in a decision that surprised the entire world.
The confusion around the planet had a reason, since he became the first pope to resign since Gregory XII did so in 1415.
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Why did Benedict XVI decide to retire?
Joseph Ratzinger announced that he would retire as pope on February 11, 2013 and did so through a statement.
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In his statement, Pope Benedict XVI cited his "old age" as the reason for his retirement.
These were his exact words:
"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I came to the certainty that my strength, due to advanced age, is no longer suitable for 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 also with prayer and suffering".
"However, in today's world, subjected to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of profound relevance for the life of faith, to steer the boat of Saint Peter and announce the Gospel both strength of mind and that of the body, a strength that, in recent months, has deteriorated in me to the point that I have had to recognize my inability to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.
"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, I freely 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, in such a way , that as of February 28, 2013, at 8:00 p.m., the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will remain vacant and a conclave must be convened to elect the new Supreme Pontiff by those to whom it is incumbent".
Was there some other reason?
At that time, many speculated if there was some other reason for his retirement besides his advanced age, since years before, cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church had been uncovered, for which Benedict XVI apologized in 2010 and promised to do more to stop future incidents.
However, Federico Lombardi, the then Vatican spokesman, assured that the pope's decision was not due to any external pressure.
Likewise, Lombardi stressed that Benedict XVI was not in poor health due to any specific disease, "but rather due to a deterioration and weakness of his body, as the holy pontiff said in his statement."
With information from Susannah Cullinane
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