Catholics dismiss Pell’s claims and back Pope

AUSTRALIA
Bendigo Advertiser

By Vince Chadwick, Barney Zwartz
March 1, 2013

PROMINENT Australian Catholics have rejected claims by Cardinal George Pell that the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI weakened the papacy, and dismissed notions the Sydney Archbishop was angling for the top job.

It came as the Pope had a last day to match his shy personality, with surprisingly little ceremony.

He was to meet cardinals from around the world, followed by a private parting ceremony in a Vatican courtyard in mid-afternoon, followed by a helicopter flight across the Vatican, the world’s smallest state, to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

Earlier, Cardinal Pell – in Rome, where he will help choose Benedict’s successor – said that the resignation could set a dangerous precedent.

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