Updated | Pope Benedict to resign - full statement here

The Italian news agency ANSA announced today that Benedict XVI will be leaving the pontificate on 28 February.

The Pope explained that carrying out the duties of being pope required "both strength of mind and body" adding that in the last few months, his health had deteriorated the extent that "I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me."

A conclave to elect a new pope expected before the end of March.

The announcement was made personally by Benedict, in Latin, during the consistory for the canonisation of the martyrs of Otranto. The Associated Press reports that Benedict said this morning: “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.”

Papal resignation is provided for by the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. The only conditions for the validity of the resignation are that it be made freely and be manifested properly.

The term "abdication" is not used in the official documents of the Church for a papal resignation.

The senior cardinal of the Vatican will take over Benedict's duties following his stepping down, until a conclave of Catholic Church cardinals can be held to choose his successor. The conclave could be held as early as mid-March, as the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope does not have to be observed in this case.

The Vatican said that it expected the period between Benedict's stepping down and the selection of a successor to be "as brief as possible", and that a successor could be elected before Easter celebrations.

Addressing the press following the announcement, spokesperson Fr Federico Lombardi said that senior Vatican figures had noticed that Benedict appeared "fatigued" and "exhausted" in fulfilling his duties in recent days.

Nevertheless, he said that the decision to step down "took [church officials] by surprise". He asserted that it was in full compliance with Church law.

Pope Benedict had hinted in a book of interviews in 2010 that he might resign if he felt he was no longer able to carry out his duties.

The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants. Benedict called his choice "a decision of great importance for the life of the church".

Lombardi said that Benedict would first move to the Papal summer residence near Rome after resigning at the end of February, and would later be moved to a cloistered residence in the Vatican.

PROFILE Benedict XVI

FULL STATEMENT

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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.

I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, 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 Saint 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.