Ex-pope denies he was forced to leave

Almost a year to the day since his resignation, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has denied that he came under pressure within the Vatican to give up the job

Vatican City: Almost a year to the day since his resignation, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has denied that he came under pressure within the Vatican to give up the job.

In a statement, the 86-year-old former pontiff insisted that he had freely taken the decision to become the first Pope since the Middle Ages to resign the seat of St Peter, a move that shocked the world.

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