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Today we look at the life and resignation of Pope Benedict the 16th. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church surprised people around the world this week when he announced plans to resign at the end of the month. It has been almost 600 years since the last pope resigned. VOA Reporter Jack Payton will join us to talk about the pope’s life. But first, Christopher Cruise has more on Pope Benedict’s resignation. The religious leader surprised Roman Catholic officials when he announced his resignation at the Vatican on Monday. He said he was no longer strong enough to carry out his duties as head of the world’s largest Christian group. The 85-year-old pope told Vatican officials that his health had worsened in recent months. He said he had to recognize what he called his “incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted” to him. On Tuesday, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Benedict has had a pacemaker for years to help control his heartbeat. Pope Benedict spoke to people gathered in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday. He talked about “peace, harmony and gratitude to Heaven.” Few people knew that this would be one of the last times he would speak publicly as pope. Many people were shocked by the pope’s resignation. The head of the Anglican Church said he was of “heavy heart” after hearing the news. In South Africa, the Archbishop of Pretoria said the continent’s Catholics would remember the pope fondly. And the Chief Rabbi of Israel said Pope Benedict had improved ties between Judaism and Christianity. | 
