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Pope Benedict XVI to Resign

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    The pope will step down Feb. 28, making him the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years.

  • Duration 2:47
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Any news this morning.

-- Pope Benedict the sixteenth is stepping down at the end of this month he is the first Pope to resign he nearly 600.

Years.

-- -- senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg pal hot live in London for us with all the latest details all right good morning to you Greg.

Hey guys -- shocking news coming just the past two hours or so from the Vatican -- that 85 year old -- Benedict the sixteenth will be resigning by the end of the month specifically on February 28.

Less than eight years into his -- -- he said in a statement which he released today that he didn't have the strength to fulfill the duties of the office.

He said he was aware of the seriousness of this act but he did and full freedom.

He specifically said that -- -- -- deteriorated in the last few months and that his advanced age pointed to an incapacity to.

And adequately fulfill the mission of the -- all the sets up a conclave and election of cardinals for the new -- That according to Vatican this morning is by mid march they say there will be a new poll probably by Easter that is march 31.

-- just half hour ago you guys spoke to my old colleague Greg Burke he is now senior media advisor in the Vatican.

He said he was surprised like a lot of people -- this morning but that he said he saw the Pope slowing down in recent months so it was not unexpected there had reports that he was thinking about doing this the Pope Bennett Pope Benedict was thinking of stepping down in the last few months.

Now pope's have stepped out in in the past but to show how historic this is the last time this -- -- with 600 years ago Pope.

Gregory the twelfth did that.

Now the Pope himself Pope Benedict has suggested that -- Pope who is ill or feeling ill should consider resigning so there was a little bit of hint that this would happen.

And for those of us who watch closely Pope John Paul the second and those last few years and saw his health deteriorate badly and suffered and impact the church itself perhaps Pope Benedict was thinking about that as well now Pope Benedict the sixteenth is the former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger a German.

He is a conservative he was a strong enforcer of the strictures of the -- And his -- C was at least.

Some in some part impacted by scandals affecting the church including the broad charges of child -- abuse through the Catholic Church now guys.

This raises the question -- Who will be picked for the next -- -- the billion plus Catholics around the world there's already speculation.

Thinking that perhaps a new Pope could come from Africa or South America the developing world these -- big growth markets for the church certainly setting up -- conclave -- that black or white smoke coming from the -- the Sistine -- abortion if you times it is high drama here we go again -- -- --

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