I Resigned for the good of the church, Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI, who last Monday announced his decision to give up the leadership of the Catholic Church, reappeared today on the  Ash Wednesday ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica, before an audience of  12,000 Catholic believers, and said he decided to resign in full freedom and he did it “for the good of the church.”

The Pope, who will remain in office until the end of this month, was very excited and looking good. He took the time to explain the reasons for his resignation, emphasizing that it is the result of a thorough analysis, with the certainty of not having the necessary strength to continue leading the maximum prelature of the Catholic Christians. He asked the people to “continue to pray for me and for the future pope.”

The presence of the Holy Father at the ceremony that marks the beginning of Lent, which ends with Easter, was received with great enthusiasm and loud applause by the present.