UNITED KINGDOM
AFP
By Katherine Haddon (AFP)
LONDON — 1246 GMT: Meanwhile, the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby — the spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans — has issued a statement expressing sadness at the news.
“It was with a heavy heart but complete understanding that we learned this morning of Pope Benedict?s declaration of his decision to lay down the burden of ministry as Bishop of Rome, an office which he has held with great dignity, insight and courage,” he said.
1244 GMT: British Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a statement saying Pope Benedict will be “missed as a spiritual leader to millions.”
1240 GMT: There have been other popes who stepped down in different circumstances.
There have been up to five papal abdications in 2,000 years.
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