The Roman Catholic world woke up to a surprise announcement by Pope Benedict XV. At the end of a speech to a gathering of Cardinals he stated that he would resign at the end of February. This would make him the first pope since 1415 to do so.
Apparently many of the Cardinals did not understand what he said as he made the announcement in Latin.
Fortunately my sources have obtained a translation which in included his reason. He said he 'just wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids'.
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