Benedict XVI resigned because of World Youth Day? Praises Raul Castro?

“There were numerous commitments which I felt I was no longer able to carry through, notably, the World Youth Day which had been scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the summer of 2013. I was very certain of two things. After the experience of the trip to Mexico and Cuba, I no longer felt able to embark on another very demanding visit. Furthermore, according to the format of these gatherings, which had been established by John Paul II, the Pope’s physical presence there was paramount. A television link or any other such technological solution was out of the question. This was another reason why I saw it as my duty to resign.”

“The visit to Mexico and Cuba had been a beautiful and moving experience for me in many ways. In Mexico I was struck by the profound faith of so many young people who communicated their joyous passion for God. I was equally struck by the great problems afflicting Mexican society and by the Church’s efforts to seek a faith-based response to the challenge posed by poverty and violence. I need scarcely remind you of how impressed I was in Cuba to see the way in which Raul Castro wishes to lead his country onto a new path, without breaking with the immediate past. Here too, I was deeply impressed by the way in which my brothers in the Episcopate are striving to navigate through this difficult process, with the faith as their starting point. However, during those visits I became acutely aware of the limits of my physical strength. Above all, I realised that I was no longer able to face future transoceanic trips due to jet lag. Naturally, I discussed these problems with my doctor, Professor Patrizio Polisca too. It thus became clear that I would not be able to take part in the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, there was the obvious jet lag problem. From that moment on, I had a relatively short amount of time to decide on the date of my withdrawal.”