Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of some 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, resigned Feb. 28. His resignation announcement on Feb. 11, which cited deteriorating physical strength due to old age, had surprised the world. He is said to be the first pope to relinquish the office since Pope Gregory XII did so in 1415, when the Papal Schism was coming to an end.
Benedict's decision testifies to his sincere attitude toward his duties as head of the Roman Catholic Church. He mentioned the physical and mental demands of the papacy in a world that is rapidly changing because of advances in science and the diversification of values. Contemporary issues such as bioethical questions increasingly challenge the church's ideas of morality. Benedict must have thought that, given his physical conditions, his resignation would best serve the interests of the church.
Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria, Germany, is a distinguished Catholic theologian who taught at several German universities. Although considered theologically conservative, he is said to have made great contributions to the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, which prodded the church to deal squarely with the modern world and to adopt an open attitude toward Protestantism and other religions.