Less than two months after tweeting for the first time on his official Twitter account, Pope Benedict XVI announced he is signing off from the papacy.
Pope Benedict cited his “advanced age” as the reason for his stepping aside and said he will do so on Feb. 28. Of course, speculation is rampant on social networks that there is more to this story than that.
This part of the Pope’s official statement seems to indicate the demand of the job was also a factor.
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.
Vatican Radio notes that shock was one of the strongest reactions when it shared the news on Facebook; one of the first comments it received was “Hacked??”
