Pope Benedict XVI is not suffering from any specific disease that forced him to resign, his spokesman said Tuesday, a day after the news that he was stepping down shocked the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
The pontiff is resigning
because he does not feel he has the strength to continue as the church's
leader, the Rev. Federico Lombardi said, adding that it was a
"spiritual" decision.
Lombardi emphasized that Benedict remains pope until February 28, when his resignation takes effect.
He dismissed reports in
an Italian newspaper that the pope's decision was linked to a medical
intervention to replace the battery in his pacemaker, saying that had
been a routine procedure. Benedict has had the pacemaker since he was a
cardinal, he added.
Benedict's service will
end at 8 p.m. on February 28 and he will continue his work as planned
until then, Lombardi said, including an important meeting with the
cardinals and priests this Thursday.
He will hold a final audience in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square on February 27, Lombardi said.
Despite addressing
reporters at length, Lombardi left many questions about what will come
next unanswered -- including those concerning exactly when a successor
will be elected.
The Vatican does not yet
know when cardinals will meet in a conclave to decide who will replace
Benedict, Lombardi said. Vatican experts are studying legal documents on
the subject, he explained.
But the conclave is
likely to come between 15 and 20 days after the pontiff steps down, he
said, and a new pope will be in place before Easter is celebrated at the
end of March.
Much of the uncertainty stems from the fact this is the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years.
The pope said Monday he is resigning "because of advanced age."
"Strength of mind and
body are necessary, strength which in 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," said
Benedict, 85, according to the Vatican.
The pope, born Joseph
Ratzinger, will first head to the pope's summer residence in Castel
Gandolfo before he likely retires to a monastery and devotes himself to a
life of reflection and prayer, Lombardi said.
He won't be involved in managing the church after his resignation
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