By Claudio Lavanga and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News
ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he will resign on February 28 as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, saying he no longer has the strength to carry out his duties.
The 85-year-old announced his decision during an address, in Latin, at the "Concistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto", a small event held early in the morning.
The decision, which took even the Vatican hierarchy by surprise, makes him the first pope to resign since the Middle Ages.
His statement was posted on the Vatican Radio website
Carrying out the duties of being pope required "both strength of mind and body," it said.
"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," the pontiff's statement said.
The choice was a "decision of great importance" for the church, the statement added.
There are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner, The Associated Press reported.
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