AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Aaron Langmaid
From:Herald Sun
February 11, 2013
AUSTRALIA’S most senior Catholic says last night’s resignation of Pope Benedict XVI caught him by surprise.
Cardinal George Pell AC, the Archbishop of Sydney, will cast his vote on the Catholic Church’s new leader in Rome by the end of the month, following the first resignation of a Pope since 1415.
“Pope Benedict has always loved the Church and worked to do what was best for her. His resignation came as a surprise to me. We thank him for his years of devoted leadership and service, and his brilliant teaching. We’ll pray for him as he enters retirement. We must also pray for the church as she prepares to choose the next successor of St Peter,” Cardinal Pell said in a brief statement.
More:Pope resigns because of age, health
The 85-year-old German Pope told Vatican cardinals his age and health were factors in his decision to step down, making him the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
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