Retired Pope Benedict Denies He Was Pressured To Resign

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

NICOLE WINFIELD – FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 6:36 AM EST

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI has denied speculation that he was pressured to leave office, saying his decision was freely made and his alone.

Benedict wrote to the Vatican correspondent for La Stampa newspaper, Andrea Tornielli, amid a new round of speculation about his reasons ahead of Friday's first anniversary of the first resignation by a pope in 600 years.

"There isn't the slightest doubt about the validity of my resignation from the Petrine ministry," La Stampa quoted Benedict as writing. "The only condition for the validity is the full freedom of the decision. Speculation about its invalidity is simply absurd."

Benedict, 86, also defended his decision to continue wearing the white cassock of the papacy, saying that there were no other clothes available.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/benedict_denies_pressure_resign_papacy

[TNNurse]

1. I have no connection to the Catholic church

I am just glad he resigned, I like this guy much better.

I did see Benedict in the white robe the other day and thought it was odd. His church does not have the money to buy him other clothing??? Well, if they had paid up and spent enough money working on the sex abuse cases, I would understand.

[DonViejo]

2. I'm also glad he resigned but, not for a nano second

do I believe he wasn't pressured into doing it. I think his handling of the abuse cases was precisely the reason he was pressured into it, his involvement was slowly being publicized by the media too.

[Berlum]

3. "I did not have Kicked Out Keester with that Pope Thingy, the Holy See." - xPoPe Ratzinger (R)

[eggplant]

4. "no other clothes available"?

really?

[Sheldon Cooper]

5. I think the Cardinals should pass a hat and get some $ together so he can get some new duds.