The Pope won’t be the only high-ranking person in the Catholic church to step down.
Great Britain’s most senior cardinal Cardinal Keith O’Brien has resigned.
The Archbishop of Scotland is being accused of sexually abusing four men while they studied to be priests something he denies.
Vatican officials announced the resignation today. In a statement, Cardinal O’Brien says he will not attend the conclave because he does not want media attention focused on him during the vote in Rome.
Just four days left until the Pope steps down but not before he changes a Catholic law allowing the conclave to elect a successor earlier than planned.
Pope Benedict waived the 15-day waiting period.
That means the conclave can start the selection process as early as March 9th.
The Pope held his final Sunday prayer yesterday telling the crowd he does not plan on abandoning the church.