Pope Benedict To Resign At The End Of The Month - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Pope Benedict To Resign At The End Of The Month

Posted: Updated:
by Lindsay Nadrich, KHQ Local News Reporter - email

SPOKANE, Wash. – Early Monday, Pope Benedict XVI announced his decision to resign during a small meeting of Vatican Cardinals.

Benedict is the first pope in modern history to step down. In fact, this is the first time a Pope has resigned in 600 years. The news was unexpected for many Catholics around the world, as well as, for churches here in Spokane.

"Pope Benedict indicated that he has grown weak under the burden of years and has determined that before God it would be better for the church if he would step down," said Father Darrin Connall at Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Lourdes Monday during mass.

Benedict is a leader to more than one billion Catholics worldwide and it is clear he will be missed.

"My initial reaction was of great sadness because he is a great Pope and he has been internationally recognized as the greatest mind of the century," said Mass attendee Terry Lundrigan.

Lundrigan was not the only one in attendance who felt sad when hearing the news.

"Yeah sad, because he is such a great leader, but I'm also hopeful that the next one coming up will have more energy if that was hard for him," Lisa Shortell said.

Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Lourdes in downtown Spokane, displayed Pope Benedict's picture during Mass and took a moment to pray for his health.

Father Connall said the Pope's decision to resign is already impacting services.

"I noticed that mass attendance at the noon service was a little more than usual," Father Connall said. "I think it is on people's minds and hearts."

He also says it is somewhat telling that the Pope would choose today for his announcement. February 11th is world day of prayer for the sick. It is a day when Catholics take time to pray and care for those who are sick in a special way.

"It is very interesting that the holy father chose this day to tell us that he is sick," Father Connall said. "He has grown weak under the burden of years and needs to set down the office of St. Peter."

The Cardinals will meet to choose a new Pope some time after Benedict resigns on February 28th. Benedict will not be involved in the decision.

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:43:51 GMT
    BREAKING NEWS - The Medical Examiner's Office has revised the death toll in the Moore, Oklahoma tornado from 91 people to at least 24 people.
    UPDATE: Originally the death toll was reported to be 91 people and counting, however, the Medical examiner's office revised the death toll from the Oklahoma tornado to at least 24 people. A spokeswoman said Tuesday morning that she believes some victims were counted twice in the early chaos of the storm.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:31 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:31:19 GMT
    WASHINGTON (AP) - Wind, humidity and rainfall combined precisely to create the massive killer tornado in Moore, Okla.
    WASHINGTON (AP) - Wind, humidity and rainfall combined precisely to create the massive killer tornado in Moore, Okla. And when they did, the awesome amount of energy released over that city dwarfed the power of the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima. Meteorologists contacted by The Associated Press used real time measurements to calculate the energy released during the storm's life span of almost an hour.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:46 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:46:46 GMT
    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The father of an 8-year-old Oklahoma boy says a teacher saved his son's life as a tornado tore into their school yesterday.
    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The father of an 8-year-old Oklahoma boy says a teacher saved his son's life as a tornado tore into their school yesterday.

  • National News

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-22 04:24:09 GMT
    WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court is backing the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos.
    WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court is backing the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:42:58 GMT
     
    HONOLULU (AP) - A Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Hawaii whose months-long disappearance led to a massive search is admitting to desertion.


     
    HONOLULU (AP) - A Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Hawaii whose months-long disappearance led to a massive search is admitting to desertion, saying he spent three months camping in the mountains of Oahu and didn't plan on ever returning to his job. Petty Officer 1st Class Russell Matthews pleaded guilty to desertion and using marijuana during a special court-martial in Honolulu on Tuesday.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:10 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:10:55 GMT
    WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has voted to keep a $400 million annual cut - or roughly a half of 1 percent - to the food stamp program in a farm bill it is considering this week.
    WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has voted to keep a $400 million annual cut - or roughly a half of 1 percent - to the food stamp program in a farm bill it is considering this week.
    •   

  • Top Stories from KHQTop Stories

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 08:17:34 GMT
    Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with rain showers and continued breezy winds from the South at 15 mph.
    Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with rain showers and continued breezy winds from the South at 15 mph.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 08:17:00 GMT
    CHENEY, Wash. - Officers with the Cheney Police Department and Eastern Washington University were called to an armed robbery late Tuesday night.
    CHENEY, Wash. - Officers with the Cheney Police Department and Eastern Washington University were called to an armed robbery late Tuesday night.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:11 AM EDT2013-05-22 08:11:37 GMT
    SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Police responded to an armed robbery on Spokane's south hill. 

     
    SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Police responded to an armed robbery on Spokane's south hill. It happened just before midnight when police say a man walked into the 7-11 at 30th & Regal, displayed what appeared to be a revolver and demanded money. The suspect fled the scene on a bicycle. 
    •