AUSTRALIA
9 News
Australian Catholics will be surprised to find Pope Benedict XVI is resigning, but will be supportive of his decision, a senior member of the Catholic church says.
The 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI announced his decision to step down during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning (local time) – saying age prevented him from carrying out his duties.
He will officially resign on February 28, making him the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.
Father Brian Lucas, the general secretary of the Australian Bishops Conference, said he saw the news break on TV on Monday night and had no prior knowledge of the decision.
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