# Pope resigns

All time

# Contenders

Meet the men who could succeed Pope Benedict XVI

17 would-be contenders in the race for the papal office.

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Mar 13th 2013, 1:14 PM

# White Smoke

Explainer: How is a new Pope chosen?

There are currently 209 members of the College of Cardinals – but only 115 of them get a vote in choosing the new pontiff.

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Mar 12th 2013, 6:30 AM

# Ex Benedict

Cardinals begin process of arranging conclave to elect new pope

The tweets from the @pontifex Twitter account have been removed, with the account dormant awaiting a new pontiff.

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Mar 1st 2013, 11:32 AM

# Ex Benedict

Benedict XVI formally steps down as leader of Catholic Church

Cardinals will now meet to elect a successor, while the 85-year-old former Joseph Ratzinger will be known as ‘Pope Emeritus’.

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Feb 28th 2013, 7:10 PM

# All over

Last day: Benedict XVI's papal powers expire at 7pm tonight

The pontiff will depart the Vatican later today to spend the next few months at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican permanently to live a life of prayer and academic research.

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Feb 28th 2013, 8:03 AM

# arrivederci

Benedict XVI holds final address before stepping down as pope

The 85-year-old enjoys an emotional sendoff, explaining his reasons for retiring and taking a final tour of St Peter’s Square.

4.7k

Feb 27th 2013, 12:27 PM

# One last time

Pope to hold his final Vatican audience ahead of departure

Details of Pope Benedict’s life after his reign ends have emerged and include him swapping his trademark red shoes for a brown pair. His Fisherman’s Ring will also be destroyed.

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Feb 27th 2013, 8:14 AM

# Ex Benedict

Report: Pope decided to resign after internal report on adultery

La Repubblica says a report presented in December detailed breaches of the ‘sixth and seventh commandments’.

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Feb 21st 2013, 1:13 PM

# Pope resigns

Pope calls for Catholic Church to 'renew' as thousands flock to prayers

The Vatican said over 50,000 people had turned out to see the pope for his Sunday Angelus, while local authorities put the number at over 100,000.

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Feb 17th 2013, 3:55 PM

# sacred heart

Vatican admits Pope had secret heart operation three months ago

The Vatican said the operation had nothing to do with the Pope’s decision to resign.

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Feb 12th 2013, 8:11 PM

# White Smoke

A 12-century Irish saint reckons the next pope is the last

St Malachy – the first Irish saint to be canonised by a pope – had a prophecy concerning every pope between then and now.

52.3k

Feb 12th 2013, 3:10 PM

# haven't a pope

The best memes about the Pope's resignation

Father Ted references ahoy.

30.3k

Feb 12th 2013, 11:36 AM

# Pope resigns

Eight years: A timeline of Pope Benedict's key moments

The highlights of Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy, from 2005 to today.

4.9k

Feb 12th 2013, 6:15 AM

# Reaction

Archbishop Martin: It's amazing the pope had continued until now

The Archbishop of Dublin notes that it had been clear that Benedict XVI’s health had been in decline for the past month.

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Feb 11th 2013, 4:15 PM

# Explainer

Do popes resign?

Or is today’s announcement without precedent?

9.6k

Feb 11th 2013, 1:54 PM

# The Pope

Taoiseach extends 'best wishes' to Pope, President writes Pontiff a letter

Enda Kenny clashed with the Catholic Church in the last two years, slamming the “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism that dominates the Vatican today” after the Cloyne report in 2011.

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Feb 11th 2013, 1:22 PM