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Church leaders, charities, offer prayers and pay tribute to Pope Benedict


ACN's Neville Kyrke-Smith with Pope

ACN's Neville Kyrke-Smith with Pope

Since the news of Pope Benedict's resignation was released this morning, tributes have been pouring in from Church leaders and organisations around the UK.

Archdiocese of Liverpool

The Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool writes:

During his visit to this country in 2010 Pope Benedict XVI clearly appreciated the gift of God of Cardinal John Henry Newman. Two phrases from Blessed John Henry Newman's hymn 'Praise to the Holiest' capture for me the Cardinal and then the Pope whom I have been blessed to know: 'the loving wisdom of our God' and 'the wisest love'.

Pope Benedict broke open for us, especially during his visit to our country, the wisdom above all given to us in the Word of God and to that Word of God a word of love for us. He has been a herald with only one concern; that in the words of John the Baptist: 'the Lord must increase and I must decrease'.

Therefore in the deepest sense it is no surprise that such a disciple of the Lord, when he discerns that the resources of body and mind are inadequate to fulfil the mission entrusted to him, comes to the clear humble and selfless decision to resign.

Diocese of Portsmouth

Bishop Philip Egan said:

I am personally very sad at this news but as a Bishop with all it entails I can completely understand the Holy Father’s reason. It is many centuries since a Pope resigned from office and this will be a new situation for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.

The Diocese of Portsmouth is full of gratitude to God for all we have received from Pope Benedict XVI.

We pray for him and for his health and we ask the Lord for His grace and guidance for the Church. We pray for the man who will be called next to fulfil the office of Peter given to us by Christ.

Diocese of Lancaster

Bishop Michael Campbell OSA writes:

The news of Pope Benedict XVI’s impending resignation at the end of February will have come as a shock and a cause of sadness to many Catholics and to numerous others, believers and non-believers alike. The burden of the Petrine office is a heavy one and the Church can be immensely grateful for the willingness of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in assuming such a responsibility at his age in 2005. We can but admire his courage in deciding that he no longer possesses the physical and mental strength to continue as the successor of Peter.

Since his election the Holy Father has carried out his papal duties with devotion and dignity, and employed his many gifts, not least those of a fine intellect, as supreme pastor of the Church. Catholics in England and Scotland recall with pleasure and pride, as well as gratitude, his recent visit to these islands and the powerful impact for good his presence had on so many of our fellow-citizens.

Being Pope, with concern for all the churches as St Paul expressed it, has never been easy. History will record the years of Pope Benedict’s papacy as particularly difficult and trying ones for the Church. Equally, his prayerfulness and quiet dignity brought a sense of God’s calm and reassurance to believers in often troubled times.

We thank God for the blessing that Pope Benedict has been to the Church and to the world, and we will accompany him in prayer as he moves into retirement and the promise of quieter days. On this Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes we commend the Holy Father to the loving care and maternal protection of Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of our saviour.

+Michael G Campbell OSA Bishop of Lancaster

Apostleship of the Sea

Catholic maritime charity Apostleship of the Sea has praised Pope Benedict XVI’s concern for seafarers during his time in office. In November Pope Benedict addressed Apostleship of the Sea’s 23rd world congress, in Rome.

He spoke about fishermen and their families, emphasising that more than other groups they have to "face the difficulties of the present time and the uncertainty of a future threatened by the negative effects of climate change and the excessive exploitation of resources.”

In July 2011 at Castel Gandolfo he met with a dozen people who had family members being held captive by pirates.

Apostleship of the Sea director Martin Foley said: “Pope Benedict showed a deep understanding of the many difficulties faced by seafarers today and their families. “His gesture of meeting with the families of the victims of pirates helped to highlight the dangers facing seafarers off the coast of Somalia and elsewhere.”


Aid to the Church in Need

Neville Kyrke-Smith, UK national director of Aid to the Church in Need, a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church, has made the following statement about Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to stand down:

“It is with regret but also with respect that we learnt of the decision of Pope Benedict XVI to step down due to his health.

“We have been aware of his increasing frailty and know that he had stated that he would not continue to fulfil his Petrine ministry if he became incapacitated.

“This move may have come as a surprise, but it is something that his predecessor, Blessed Pope John Paul II, also considered doing.

“Aid to the Church in Need is a Catholic charity helping Christians who are persecuted, oppressed and in need. We recognise that one of the great contributions of Pope Benedict will be seen to be his call for religious freedom and respect. In his visit to Britain he called for there to be the space in the public square for faith.

“The engagement of this Pontifex, Pope Benedict, has been ecumenical, with other faiths and challenged politicians – and it should help all Christian communities to be seen as bridge-builders in today’s often tense and violent world.

“At a challenging time we must continue to help all those who suffer for their faith and also build understanding and trust between communities.

“Please join us and all the faithful in prayer, for Pope Benedict and also that the Holy Spirit may inspire the next conclave which will elect the next Successor of Saint Peter.”

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