Pope to resign

FILE - In this Sunday, April 24, 2005 file photo, Archbishop Piero Marini drapes Pope Benedict XVI with the pallium during his installment Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, he would resign Feb. 28 because he is simply too old to carry on. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

FILE - This April 24, 2005 file photo shows thousands of people attending the installment Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 that he would resign on Feb. 28 because he was simply too infirm to carry on — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, files)

FILE - In this Sunday, Sunday, April 24, 2005 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI waves as he rides on the Popemobile through St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, following his installment Mass. Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, he would resign Feb. 28 because he is simply too old to carry on. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, April 24, 2005 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd after celebrating his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, he would resign Feb. 28 because he is simply too old to carry on. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday Nov. 14, 2007 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI gives his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013 he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, April 1, 2007, file photo, Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims and faithful during an open-air Palm Sunday Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Declaring that he lacks the strength to do his job, Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013, he will resign Feb. 28 _ becoming the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. His decision sets the stage for a mid-March conclave to elect a new leader for a Roman Catholic Church in deep turmoil. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008, file photo, Pope Benedict XVI holds the pastoral staff as he celebrates Christmas midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Declaring that he lacks the strength to do his job, Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013, he will resign Feb. 28 _ becoming the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. His decision sets the stage for a mid-March conclave to elect a new leader for a Roman Catholic Church in deep turmoil. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, March 25, 2010 file photo Pope Benedict XVI gestures from his popemobile as he leaves a youth gathering, in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican. When he became pope at age 78, Benedict XVI was already the oldest pontiff elected in nearly 300 years. He's now 85, and in recent years he has slowed down significantly, cutting back his foreign travel and limiting his audiences. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE - In this March 28, 2012 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful as he arrives to lead a Mass at Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba. On Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign on Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, file)

FILE - In this March 25, 2012 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI waves from the popemobile wearing a Mexican sombrero as he arrives to give a Mass in Bicentennial Park near Silao, Mexico. On Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI will resign on Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, file)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI is seen behind a window of his pope-mobile as he delivers his blessing to faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for his general audience, at the Vatican. Benedict always cast himself as the reluctant pope, a shy bookworm who preferred solitary walks in the Alps to the public glare and the majesty of Vatican pageantry. But once in office, he never shied from charting the Catholic Church on the course he thought it needed _ a determination reflected in his stunning announcement Monday that he would be the first pope to resign since 1415. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI, standing at center, waves from his popemobile on his way to the Spanish Steps in central Rome, for the traditional prayer before a statue of the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception. Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013 he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini. File)

A man holds an umbrella under heavy rain as he walks in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Declaring that he lacks the strength to do his job, Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 he will resign Feb. 28, becoming the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. His decision sets the stage for a mid-March conclave to elect a new leader for a Roman Catholic Church in deep turmoil. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Mons. Franco Comaldo, left, a pope aide, looks at Pope Benedict XVI as he reads a document in Latin where he announces his resignation, during a meeting of Vatican cardinals, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, center, leaves after attending a meeting of Vatican cardinals where he read a document in Latin in which he announced his resignation, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)