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Pope Resigning On Feb. 28, Conclave In March

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.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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