Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
	Pope Benedict XVI in 2011
Date	28 February 2013
Time	20:00 (CET)
Cause	Deteriorating strength due to old age and the physical and mental demands of the papacy
Outcome	Pope Benedict XVI resigned and became pope emeritus; he died 9 years later in 2022.; Pope Francis was elected in the 2013 conclave.;

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took effect on 28 February 2013 at 20:00 Roman-Vatican Time, following Benedict XVI's announcement of the same on 11 February. It made him the first pope to relinquish the office since Gregory XII was forced to resign in 1415 to end the Western Schism, and the first pope to voluntarily resign since Celestine V in 1294.

All other popes in the modern era have held the position from election until death. Benedict resigned at the age of 85, citing declining health due to old age. The conclave to select his successor began on 12 March 2013 and elected cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who took the name of Francis.

Benedict chose to be known as "Pope emeritus" upon his resignation, and he retained this title until his death in December 2022.

Pope Benedict XVI in 2011
Date	28 February 2013 (2013-02-28)
Time	20:00 (CET)
Cause	Deteriorating strength due to old age and the physical and mental demands of the papacy
Outcome	Pope Benedict XVI resigned and became pope emeritus; he died 9 years later in 2022. Pope Francis was elected in the 2013 conclave.