Speak Out: What are Your Thoughts on the Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI?

Pope Benedict XVI announced today (Feb. 11) that he is resigning, effective Feb. 28.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta is planning a press conference at 1 p.m. today regarding the historic news. The press conference will be at 2401 Lake Park Drive, in Smyrna.

A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Atlanta told Patch that the news is still setting in with local leaders and parishioners.

The Pope's resignation letter reads in part:

"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... 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 recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me..."

Pope Benedict XVI was born in 1927, in Bavaria, as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, and is the 265th pope. The last pope to resign was Gregory XII, in 1415. 

The largest Catholic congregation in Lilburn is St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Tom Smith Road. Other congregations include: St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission.

--How do you feel about his resignation? As a Catholic, what impact will this have on your life? --