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Benedict XVI: ‘God told me’ to resign

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy because “God told me” to, according to a report by a Catholic news agency.

The Zenit news agency reported on Monday (Aug. 19) that Benedict decided to step back as a result of what he described as a “mystical experience” that shouldn’t be confused with a vision.