Today is the anniversary of a major moment in recent Church history. Ten years ago, on February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation became effective and he left the Vatican to go to Castel Gandolfo. EWTN Vatican Journalist Rudolf Gehrig traveled to Pope Benedict’s hometown and met with a journalist who was very close to the late Pope. The journalist said all the conspiracy theories are not true and that Pope Benedict was in fact very ill. The late Pope had heart disease, blindness in one eye, constant headaches and early stages of Parkinson’s. Benedict also noticed that his memory was failing and had had insomnia since 2005. The late Pope thought he would die soon after retiring but in a surprising turn of events, his reign as Pope Emeritus lasted longer than his reign as Pope. However, according to the journalist, Benedict never regretted his resignation.
A Major Moment in Church History: The Resignation of Pope Benedict A Decade Ago
- EWTN
- via EWTN
- 01.03.23

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

EWTN
Share
Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican
Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.
More news related to this article
Cardinal Becciu claims conclave vote despite loss of privileges
Cardinal Angelo Becciu is reportedly seeking to participate in the upcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor despite having been stripped of his cardinalatial privileges in 2020 and later convicted of financial crimes.
Jesuit superior blames ‘Vatican norms’ for blocking harsher penalties for Rupnik
The former superior of the now-expelled Father Marko Rupnik has stated that “internal procedures” at the Vatican prevented
Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements Unites 70,000 Faithful in Rome
On the 7th and 8th of June, countless groups of faithful operating within the Church shared their experience of service to religious, spiritual, and social life.
Pope Leo XIV praises Italian society for works done in spirit of St. Francis of Assisi
Pope Leo XIV on Monday welcomed members of the Opera San Francesco per i Poveri (“St. Francis’ Work for the Poor”) to the Vatican, thanking the society for its witness of charity according to the Franciscan tradition.
Pope Francis’ Creates 21 New Cardinals for the Catholic Church
Pope Francis has announced the creation of 21 new cardinals in an upcoming consistory on September 30th.
BREAKING: Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel as Thursday morning voting concludes without a pope
Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 11:51 am Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the cardinals voting at the conclave have not yet elected a new pope.