Therefore the ability to have children until relatively late in life might be a sign that a woman is well equipped to live to an advanced age.

BBC: The secret of a longer life?

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

CNN: Full text of Pope Benedict XVI's declaration

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine Ministry, " he added.

WSJ: Pope Benedict XVI to Resign

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry, " he told the cardinals.

NPR: Pope Resigning On Feb. 28, Conclave In March

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine Ministry, " the pope said in a declaration in Latin to a gathering of cardinals on Monday.

WSJ: Pope Benedict XVI to Resign

When he resigned, Benedict cited his advanced age as the reason, saying he no longer had the strength for "an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry".

BBC: Ex-Pope Benedict returns to Vatican

Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi is serving an eight-year sentence on market rigging related to the stunning 2003 collapse of his dairy empire despite his advanced age.

NPR: Knox Case Puts Italian Justice Under Scrutiny