Reaction to Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation announcement

By Aldo Amato
Staff Reporter 

It was announced today that the leader of the world’s largest church has decided to step down due to what Vatican officials call “advanced age.”

Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, shocked many across the world, nation and across the state of Alabama on Monday as he announced he would step down as leader of the Catholic Church on Feb. 28, 2013.

Bishop Robert Baker of the Diocese of Birmingham released a statement stating his sadness and appreciation following Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement.

“On the one hand, I greet the news with sadness because of my great admiration and respect for Pope Benedict and his leadership of our Church the past eight years,” Baker said in a statement released on Monday.

“At the same time, I understand fully his concern over his health and the stamina required to meet the heavy demands of his role as Vicar of Jesus Christ and Successor of St. Peter.  I join the Universal Church in extending our gratitude to our Holy Father for his remarkable pastoral leadership carried out with profound wisdom, great calm and immense compassion for all his flock and for the entire world.”

Currently, the Catholic population in the United States makes up 25 percent of the church’s overall population. According to data released by The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2008, over 151,000 Catholics were registered in the state of Alabama.

Local priests in Madison and The Rev. Michael Mac Mahon of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville, dean of priests in the area, declined to comment on the pontiff’s resignation.