The retirament of the Pope goes around the world. Italian President Napolitano said “choice of great courage”
The news opens all foreign sites dismay and disbelief by the leaders
ROME
The news of the earlier resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has been done around the world, causing between governments and the press reactions of respect – if not of regret – but also understandable surprise, given that the decision was not expected.
The German Federal Government has expressed a cautious reaction to the first: “It ‘a touching story,” said the spokesman Steffen Seibert, expressing “respect” and “gratitude” to him.
French President Francois Hollande has called “perfectly respectable” the decision of the Pope “I have no particular comment on this perfectly respectable decision that will lead to the appointment of a new Pope,” Hollande said on the sidelines of a visit to a Parisian banlieue . “The Republic greets the Pope, who has taken this decision,” he added.
Even before the first reactions, within a few moments the announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has been around the world and has become the opening of the online sites of all media: “Our pope resigns,” headline the German tabloid Bild, referring to the German-born Ratzinger. “I no longer have the strength to fulfill this task,” headline the Welt virgolettando the words of Benedict XVI and reporting the words of Cardinal Angelo Sodano: “Like a bolt from the blue.”
The BBC speaks of “shock resignation” while American sites, CNN, Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal refer to old age of the pope. “The Pope’s resignation” is the headline of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, according to which the announcement of his resignation is a “historic decision of the Catholic leaders.” “The Pope renounces lack of strength,” headline El Mundo. “The pope will resign on February 28,” headlines Le Figaro, following the event minute by minute. Liberation begins with “The Pope resigns”: Benedict XVI “no longer has the strength” to lead the Church. Attention to the resignation of the pope also on the sites of Israeli intelligence. “Pope Benedict XVI will step down on Feb. 28, the first resignation from the 15th century,” is the opening of Haaretz. The resignation of the pope also open the Yedioth Ahronoth, which emphasizes that Joseph Ratzinger has amazed the world with his announcement.
A lot of the reactions from Italy. “A bolt from the blue,” says Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
Father Lombardi said he “welcomed the announcement of the resignation of the Pope with a great deal of admiration for the great courage, freedom of spirit and great sense of responsibility for his ministry.” “Benedict XVI has given us – adds the spokesman of the Holy See – a great testimony of spiritual freedom, a greater awareness of the problems of the government of the Church in today’s world”
Napolitano: “Compared to a great sense of responsibility”
An “act of great courage and extraordinary sense of responsibility. For my part there is great respect for this gesture of great generosity. ” So the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano said to reporters the decision of Benedict XVI to resign. The head of state said he had been able to observe in the interview a few days ago with the Pope and the Pope was “tried.”
Monti: “I’m shocked”
“I am very moved by this unexpected news.” So the Prime Minister, Mario Monti, said the announcement of Benedict XVI’s pontificate want to leave. Had signals, there had been signs? “No,” adds Monti responding to journalists on the sidelines of a conference in Milan. “I heard this news a few minutes ago,” added the president Monti, who specified that this is a novelty, and when asked if this could somehow change the institutional relations with the Vatican, he replied: “I am not in able to comment on such an important and profound, even before they know the facts. ” When asked if he expected an announcement of this magnitude, Monti replied: “no.”
Bersani: “News of historic proportions”
“It’s a story of historical significance.” So Pier Luigi Bersani said in an interview to Radio Monte Carlo, the announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. “Not that this is unprecedented, but we must go back to centuries ago,” said the secretary of the Democratic Party. “It’s a story of historical twice,” he explained, “is very rare as a decision and, second, it is made by a Pope who does not take certain weakness. It is a great theologian who put theology in the service of the Church. ” Therefore, “it is a gesture of setting, new for the future. We are talking about a Pope who has no other clear how the theological and historical choice of this kind, “he insisted.
Casini: “revolutionary gesture”
“A revolutionary act.” So UDC leader Pier Ferdinando Casini, speaking on a chat on QN says the Pope’s decision to leave. “Benedict XVI is an extraordinary man perhaps fragile physically, but that has proven to be a great spirituality.” According Casini, the Pope’s decision “makes you feel even more distant the festival of election promises.”