Pope Benedict XVI will step down citing age and his deteriorating strength, making him the first pontiff to step down in almost 600 years.

The 85-year-old Pope said his health is the reason for the surprise announcement.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”

Benedict said his strength, over the last few months, “has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”

The head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said he was “well aware of the seriousness of this act.”

pix source Wikipedia