VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.

The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.

The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday morning.

He said that because of his advanced age and diminishing strength, he didn’t feel he could carry on the job.

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