Vatican deflates report that Pope is preparing to resign next year
September 26, 2011
Vatican officials have quickly dismissed a report that Pope Benedict XVI may plan to resign in 2012 when he reaches the age of 85.
Italian journalist Antonio Socci of Libero had claimed that the Pope is weighing resignation next year. Socci cited no evidence for his claim. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters: “We don’t know anything about it.” He observed that the Pope—who was just concluding a 4-day visit to Germany, during which he maintained an unusually demanding schedule—is in good health.
Socci may have drawn his report from a recent interview in which the Pontiff’s brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, said that Benedict XVI would resign if he felt himself unable to fulfill the demands of papal office.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
