Archdiocese of St. Pete Reacts to Pope's Resignation
Joseph Ratzinger's last day as Pope will be Feb. 28. He was chosen in 2005 to succeed the late Pope John Paul II.
The world was shocked Monday when Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would become the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. Joseph Ratzinger's last day as Pope will be Feb. 28. He was chosen in 2005 to succeed the late Pope John Paul II. Bishop Robert N. Lynch, of The Archdiocese of St. Petersburg, released a statement following the Pope's announcement this morning. Lynch said the Pope's resignation "was both stunning to many and surprising to some. I have had the unique privilege in my own priestly life to come to know Josef Ratzinger well and when he said shortly after his election as our Pope that he would resign if his health ever would not permit him to fulfill his responsibilities as he saw fit, I believed him." Lynch's …
