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| Pope's resignation: reaction around the world | Pope's resignation: reaction around the world |
| (7 days later) | |
| Germany | Germany |
| Places of worship across Germany gave thanks in services for the pontificate of Benedict XVI, with many expressing their deep shock over the resignation of the first German pope since the middle ages. In Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, the birthplace of Josef Ratzinger, people placed flowers at his portrait at St Oswald's, the church where he was christened in April 1927 and to which he returned on a whistlestop tour of the region in 2006. | Places of worship across Germany gave thanks in services for the pontificate of Benedict XVI, with many expressing their deep shock over the resignation of the first German pope since the middle ages. In Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, the birthplace of Josef Ratzinger, people placed flowers at his portrait at St Oswald's, the church where he was christened in April 1927 and to which he returned on a whistlestop tour of the region in 2006. |
| Local tradesmen and hoteliers reflected on the effect his resignation would have on their businesses, including sales of Pope Beer and Pope Cake. | Local tradesmen and hoteliers reflected on the effect his resignation would have on their businesses, including sales of Pope Beer and Pope Cake. |
| "He was a pope for the whole world but he always stayed connected to his homeland … you could always sense that when he came home," said President Joachim Gauck, himself a Protestant pastor, paying tribute to a man he said combined his "education with a simple language". | "He was a pope for the whole world but he always stayed connected to his homeland … you could always sense that when he came home," said President Joachim Gauck, himself a Protestant pastor, paying tribute to a man he said combined his "education with a simple language". |
| Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor and a churchgoing Christian, said: "We are proud of our countryman, the first for hundreds of years to take up the role of pope." She added that the pope's decision should be respected in "an age where life expectancy is longer than ever, many people will understand that even the pope has to come to terms with the burdens of ageing". | Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor and a churchgoing Christian, said: "We are proud of our countryman, the first for hundreds of years to take up the role of pope." She added that the pope's decision should be respected in "an age where life expectancy is longer than ever, many people will understand that even the pope has to come to terms with the burdens of ageing". |
| Speaking to the German media, Benedict's older brother, Georg, with whom he is close, blamed the pressures of age for his sibling's decision, saying it was "part of a natural process". He added that he had known of his brother's plans for months, saying doctors had already warned Benedict against taking transatlantic flights and that he had not been able to walk properly for some time. | Speaking to the German media, Benedict's older brother, Georg, with whom he is close, blamed the pressures of age for his sibling's decision, saying it was "part of a natural process". He added that he had known of his brother's plans for months, saying doctors had already warned Benedict against taking transatlantic flights and that he had not been able to walk properly for some time. |
| The tabloid Bild, which used the headline "Wir Sind Papst" (We are the pope) when Benedict was elected in 2005, expressed its disappointment that "our pope" would not be returning to Germany. | The tabloid Bild, which used the headline "Wir Sind Papst" (We are the pope) when Benedict was elected in 2005, expressed its disappointment that "our pope" would not be returning to Germany. |
| Stefan Vesper, secretary general of the central committee of German Catholics, said he initially thought the news was a "carnival joke", referring to the carnival season that opened in Germany on Monday. "I always said he's good for surprises, and that's precisely what we've seen today," he said. "People said he looked like he was in pain recently, that he has health problems, but now's not the day to speculate on this." | Stefan Vesper, secretary general of the central committee of German Catholics, said he initially thought the news was a "carnival joke", referring to the carnival season that opened in Germany on Monday. "I always said he's good for surprises, and that's precisely what we've seen today," he said. "People said he looked like he was in pain recently, that he has health problems, but now's not the day to speculate on this." |
| Critics of the pope, who are plentiful in Germany, held back from attacking him. Hans Kung, a theologian who fell out with Benedict over his perceived lack of reform in the church, said the resignation decision earned the pope respect, calling it "understandable for many reasons". He added: "It is to be hoped, however, that Ratzinger will not exercise influence on the choice of his successor." | Critics of the pope, who are plentiful in Germany, held back from attacking him. Hans Kung, a theologian who fell out with Benedict over his perceived lack of reform in the church, said the resignation decision earned the pope respect, calling it "understandable for many reasons". He added: "It is to be hoped, however, that Ratzinger will not exercise influence on the choice of his successor." |
| Kung said the pope had built up such a solid group of conservative cardinals that he was not hopeful the church would be able to find a progressive successor. "During his time in office he has ordained so many conservative cardinals that amongst them there is hardly a single person to be found who could lead the church out of its multifaceted crisis," he said. | Kung said the pope had built up such a solid group of conservative cardinals that he was not hopeful the church would be able to find a progressive successor. "During his time in office he has ordained so many conservative cardinals that amongst them there is hardly a single person to be found who could lead the church out of its multifaceted crisis," he said. |
| The theologian Uta Ranke-Heinemann welcomed Benedict's resignation, referring to his poor handling of cases of sexual abuse cases by Catholic clergy in Germany, many of which remain unresolved. "Pope Benedict XVI was the absolute high point or low point of the 2000-year history of the Catholic church's hostility to sexuality," she said, adding: "His resignation is the only thing about him that I like." Kate Connolly | The theologian Uta Ranke-Heinemann welcomed Benedict's resignation, referring to his poor handling of cases of sexual abuse cases by Catholic clergy in Germany, many of which remain unresolved. "Pope Benedict XVI was the absolute high point or low point of the 2000-year history of the Catholic church's hostility to sexuality," she said, adding: "His resignation is the only thing about him that I like." Kate Connolly |
| Spain | Spain |
| The country's Roman Catholic bishops expressed surprise and dismay at the resignation of a conservative pope whose period in power coincided with a swing to the right in the country's senior church hierarchy. "We are profoundly affected by – and feel like orphans before – a decision that fills us with sorrow, given that we felt so secure and illuminated by his rich teachings and his fatherly closeness," Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, head of the Spanish bishop's council, said in a statement. The Spanish church has become increasingly political and combative during Benedict's time – but has also shed followers as atheism and agnosticism spread. Giles Tremlett | The country's Roman Catholic bishops expressed surprise and dismay at the resignation of a conservative pope whose period in power coincided with a swing to the right in the country's senior church hierarchy. "We are profoundly affected by – and feel like orphans before – a decision that fills us with sorrow, given that we felt so secure and illuminated by his rich teachings and his fatherly closeness," Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, head of the Spanish bishop's council, said in a statement. The Spanish church has become increasingly political and combative during Benedict's time – but has also shed followers as atheism and agnosticism spread. Giles Tremlett |
| Latin America | Latin America |
| Across Latin America, which has 42% of the world's 1.2 billion registered Catholics, the resignation was greeted with a mixture of surprise, dismay and speculation that this could pave the way for a first Hispanic pontiff. | Across Latin America, which has 42% of the world's 1.2 billion registered Catholics, the resignation was greeted with a mixture of surprise, dismay and speculation that this could pave the way for a first Hispanic pontiff. |
| In Brazil, the world's biggest Catholic country, newspaper and TV websites pushed wall-to-wall coverage of carnival festivities down to second place to run galleries of photographs of Benedict XVI and reactions from the Vatican and world leaders. | In Brazil, the world's biggest Catholic country, newspaper and TV websites pushed wall-to-wall coverage of carnival festivities down to second place to run galleries of photographs of Benedict XVI and reactions from the Vatican and world leaders. |
| The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Orani Tempesta, said a planned papal visit to Brazil on 1 July for World Youth Day would go ahead and was likely to be one of the first overseas trips by the new pope. In an intriguing comment that suggests the pope may have anticipated his resignation or incapacity, the archbishop noted: "When we fixed the date for 2013, Benedict XVI said 'the pope will go to World Youth Day, whether it is me or my successor'. | The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Orani Tempesta, said a planned papal visit to Brazil on 1 July for World Youth Day would go ahead and was likely to be one of the first overseas trips by the new pope. In an intriguing comment that suggests the pope may have anticipated his resignation or incapacity, the archbishop noted: "When we fixed the date for 2013, Benedict XVI said 'the pope will go to World Youth Day, whether it is me or my successor'. |
| The archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, described the resignation as a "great message of humility and a tribute to the truth". | The archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, described the resignation as a "great message of humility and a tribute to the truth". |
| Papal politics may weigh against a Hispanic candidate as Benedict's successor. Latin American is a bastion of "liberation theology" – a leftist movement inside Roman Catholicism that the outgoing conservative pope once declared "a fundamental threat to the faith of the church". Many believers in this part of the world will be hoping for a more liberal pontiff than Benedict. Jon Watts | Papal politics may weigh against a Hispanic candidate as Benedict's successor. Latin American is a bastion of "liberation theology" – a leftist movement inside Roman Catholicism that the outgoing conservative pope once declared "a fundamental threat to the faith of the church". Many believers in this part of the world will be hoping for a more liberal pontiff than Benedict. Jon Watts |
| Africa | Africa |
| Pope Benedict's resignation prompted tributes across the continent, which he once referred to as a "spiritual lung" of humanity and where the Catholic church is expanding its reach. | Pope Benedict's resignation prompted tributes across the continent, which he once referred to as a "spiritual lung" of humanity and where the Catholic church is expanding its reach. |
| Father Jacinto Pio Wakussanga, a Catholic priest from Lubango in Angola, said: "It does not mean the church will go down because of the protection of the holy spirit. It's good for the pope not to hold the position until he dies. There might be a temptation to confuse yourself with the institution. This shows the difference between the leader and the institution, which is more important than the leader." | Father Jacinto Pio Wakussanga, a Catholic priest from Lubango in Angola, said: "It does not mean the church will go down because of the protection of the holy spirit. It's good for the pope not to hold the position until he dies. There might be a temptation to confuse yourself with the institution. This shows the difference between the leader and the institution, which is more important than the leader." |
| Africa is home to an estimated 158 million Catholics and it is predicted that by 2025 one sixth of the world's Catholics will be African. Strongholds include Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe. | Africa is home to an estimated 158 million Catholics and it is predicted that by 2025 one sixth of the world's Catholics will be African. Strongholds include Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe. |
| Wakussanga added: "While Christianity is dying in Europe, it is being nurtured in Africa. The next pope should pay attention to Africa. If it's a man from Africa or Latin America who is in touch with people's everyday lives, that would be very helpful." | Wakussanga added: "While Christianity is dying in Europe, it is being nurtured in Africa. The next pope should pay attention to Africa. If it's a man from Africa or Latin America who is in touch with people's everyday lives, that would be very helpful." |
| Catholics make up an estimated 6% of the South African population. Raymond Perrier, director of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa, said: "His decision is a great surprise in the sense that we've forgotten the idea that popes ever resign. The end of the John Paul reign was anticipated because he'd been ill for so long; the idea that it suddenly comes from nowhere is a shock." David Smith | Catholics make up an estimated 6% of the South African population. Raymond Perrier, director of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa, said: "His decision is a great surprise in the sense that we've forgotten the idea that popes ever resign. The end of the John Paul reign was anticipated because he'd been ill for so long; the idea that it suddenly comes from nowhere is a shock." David Smith |
| The Philippines | The Philippines |
| President Benigno Aquino, who risked being excommunicated by the church in his efforts to push through a reproductive health bill, expressed "great regret" over the pope's resignation. "At this time, when the pope has announced the physical challenges he faces makes it difficult to continue bearing the burdens of his office, we join the Catholic world and all whose lives he has touched in prayer and sympathy," the statement said. Kate Hodal | President Benigno Aquino, who risked being excommunicated by the church in his efforts to push through a reproductive health bill, expressed "great regret" over the pope's resignation. "At this time, when the pope has announced the physical challenges he faces makes it difficult to continue bearing the burdens of his office, we join the Catholic world and all whose lives he has touched in prayer and sympathy," the statement said. Kate Hodal |
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