As a predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines welcomed news of the Pope Benedict XVI's resignation with sadness. Most Catholics in the Filipinos, like those all over the world, look up to the guidance of the Pope, the symbol of Catholicism in the world.
Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, is the 265th Pope, a position in which he serves dual roles as Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, on May 7, 2005. A native of Bavaria, he has both German and Vatican citizenship.
On February 11, 2013, the Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict would resign the papacy on February 28, 2013 as a result of his advanced age, becoming the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. The move was considered unexpected. In modern times, all popes have stayed in office until death. Benedict will be the first Pope to have resigned voluntarily since Pope Celestine V in 1294.
In a statement, Benedict cited his deteriorating strength and the physical and mental demands of the papacy; addressing his Cardinals in Latin, Benedict gave a brief statement announcing his resignation. He also declared that he would continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer."
According to a statement from the Vatican the timing of the resignation was not caused by any specific illness but was to "avoid that exhausting rush of Easter engagements." According to the Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi Pope Benedict XVI will leave Vatican City after his resignation for the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. After its adaption he will reside at the monastery Mater Ecclesiae located in the Vatican Gardens.
A papal conclave is not expected to begin until the resignation takes effect on February 28, with Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi saying he expects the conclave will only take between two and three weeks to conclude, allowing a new Pope to be in place before Easter.