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Fr. Chris Decker and Fr. Ryan Humphries relive the events of the day when Pope Benedict XVI, 265th successor to the See of Peter announced his intention to renounce the ministry of the sovereign pontiff. They discuss the shock of the announcement, the many works of ministry and charity that Pope Benedict has engaged since his election in 2005, and what we can expect as the day draws near and a conclave is called.

• The official announcement read by the pope himself.
• Some information on Pope Celestine V, who also resigned the papacy.

A few things that the pope has done

• Encyclicals: Deus Caritas Est, Spe Salvi, Caritas in Veritate
• Liturgy: Summorum Pontificum, Sacramentum Caritaitatis
• Efforts in Christian Unity
  • Anglicanorum Coetibus
  • Dialogue with The Society of Saint Pius X (including lifting excommunications upon their illicitly ordained bishops)
• Jesus of Nazareth, parts One, Two, and Three
• Reorganization of the Curia
• Creating the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization
• New Media
  • coining “digital continent”
  • emerging messages for World Communications Day
  • @Pontifex and @Pontifex Latin Edition on Twitter
• Developing a “Marshall Plan” to get it all together
• So much more!

Where do we go from here?

• Though the pope has not died, the manner in which a pope is elected stays essentially the same. Masses of mourning will not be offered, but many of the steps remain the same. Here is some information on what happens in the Catholic Church when the See of Peter becomes vacant (sede vacante).
• The composition of the Conclave
• What the pope is planning after stepping down…

Stay tuned to The CU Weekly for more coverage!