When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation from the papacy, it was a shock to many, as very few had anticipated such a decision. Citing declining health due to advanced age, the 85-year-old Bavarian pope stated that his strengths were no longer suited to the adequate exercise of his ministry. His voluntary resignation marked only the third such event in nearly 2,000 years of Catholic Church history, with no pope having resigned since 1415. Reports indicate that Benedict had been considering resignation for almost four years, evidenced by symbolic gestures and statements about a pope's right, and even duty, to resign if unable to perform the role properly. After stepping down, he retired initially to the Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo and later to the refurbished Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican. Despite media perceptions of his papacy as conservative and unsuccessful, his tenure was marked by a steadfast defense of Church principles against modern relativistic and progressive ideas, though scandals during his administration and the toll on his health were evident challenges.