VATICAN CITY—Pope Benedict XVI will resign on Feb. 28 for health reasons, according to Vatican spokesman Ciro Benedettini. The announcement Monday was a surprise.
The pope will step down two months before his 86th birthday after serving for almost eight years. Benedict is the 265 leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
A conclave of the church’s cardinals will be called in Rome to select a new Pope, Benedettini said.