教宗本篤16世辭職全文(英文版):
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-benedict-s-address-on-resignation-from-the-see-of-rome
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations,
but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of
the Church.
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. I am well aware that
this ministry, due to its essential spiritual
nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.
However, in today’s world, subject to so many
rapid changes and shaken by questions of
deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint
Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both 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.
For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full
freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the
Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint
Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to
elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose
competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which
you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor,
Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist
the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to
also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life
dedicated to prayer.
FROM the VATICAN