Pope Benedict XVI will resign

The announcement Monday was a surprise

By Kera Bolonik

Published February 11, 2013 11:28AM (EST)

(<a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-853726p1.html'>Jeffrey Bruno</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>)
(Jeffrey Bruno via Shutterstock)

The Vatican confirmed this morning that Pope Benedict XVI has announced he will step down from his post on February 28. The announcement came as a surprise — a resignation like this is nearly unprecedented. The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in the 15th century.

We will update the news as it comes throughout the day.


By Kera Bolonik

Kera Bolonik, a writer, critic, and editor, is the executive editor of DAME Magazine. Her writing has appeared in Elle, Glamour, New York magazine, Salon, Slate, and the New York Times Book Review, among other publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Catholic Church News Pope Benedict Pope Benedict Xvi Religion Rome Vatican