ROME
Hobsons Bay Weekly (Australia)
ROME: A frail Pope Benedict made his public farewell to the world’s Catholics on Wednesday morning, hours after one of his closest allies – Sydney Archbishop George Pell – criticised his decision to resign and said the church needed a stronger leader.
Cardinal Pell, who was close to the Pope when both served on the key Vatican watchdog congregation and played an important role gathering support for him at the 2005 conclave at which Benedict was elected, said the resignation created a precedent and left the church in an even more uncertain position.
Cardinal Pell, Australia’s only voter at the coming papal election, was unexpectedly candid in a television interview.
He said: ”People who, for example, might disagree with a future pope will mount a campaign to get him to resign.”
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