The Last Pope Resign Over 600 years ago, and Now Pope Benedict XVI is up to this

Pope Gregory XII (1326 - 1417) was the last pope to resign before Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Gregory XII, the last pope to resign from the Vatican, did so among a period of political turmoil in the church that rivaled the moral upheaval of the pedophile priest scandals of today.

With his announcement that he would step down on Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI, 85, became the first pontiff to leave office in nearly 600 years.

Pope Gregory XII quit in 1415 amid a civil war in the Roman Catholic Church known as the Great Western Schism.

NOW 2013 this is happening again

Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, 2013, a Vatican spokesman said on February 11th. The 85-year-old German-born Pope said he was resigning because he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his office. If the Pope resigns February 28th, he will be the first pontiff since 1415 to step down. See the Pope’s full resignation statement