The Vatican has announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign on the 28th of February 2013.
Spoeksman to the spiritual father, Father Federico Lombardo, said on Monday.
The Pope told the Cardinals of the Catholic Church on Monday that he decided to take the decision due to "ill health".
The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415. He was said to have taken the decision to end a supposed civil war in the church where more than one person claimed to be the Pope.
Benedict is the 265th Pope, and the sixth German to serve in this capacity. Benedict, who became Pope in 2005 is the first German to appointed since the 11th Century.
Via: ChannelsTV