Area Bishop to Address Pope Resignation - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

The announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will resign this month stunned many in the Catholic world.

We will soon learn the reaction of area Bishop Lawrence Persico.

Bishop Persico will address reporters at 2pm this afternoon to talk about the decision from the pontiff to step down. It will be the first resignation of a sitting Pope since the Middle Ages.

In written remarks Pope Benedict said he did a lot of soul searching after it became apparent to him that he no longer has the physical vitality to tend to the flock of millions of Catholics worldwide.

The Church hopes to choose another leader by the end of March and before the Easter holiday.