Catholic world rocked by Pope bombshell
With a few words in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI did what no pope has done in more than half a millennium, stunning the world by announcing his resignation and leaving the already troubled Catholic Church to replace the leader of its one billion followers by Easter.
Not even his closest associates had advance word of the news, a bombshell that he dropped during a routine meeting of Vatican cardinals yesterday. And with no clear favourites to succeed him, another surprise likely awaits when the cardinals elect Benedict’s successor next month.
