Pope Benedict the XVI’s decision to step down after just eight years as head of the Church has stunned the Catholic world and left many scrambling to figure out who will replace him. In his announcement today, the Pope cited his age and his declining health.
“In today’s world,” the pope said in a statement, “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 St. 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.”
There are an estimated one billion Catholics scattered around the world. Did you know that many of them are genetically Jewish? Read Moment’s piece here on the generic legacy of Jewish Catholics.