Resignation of Pope Benedict

Sir, – The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI (Breaking News, February 11th) marks a welcome opportunity for the church

Sir, – The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI (Breaking News, February 11th) marks a welcome opportunity for the church. The western world, Ireland in particular, is becoming significantly more liberal on the issue of homosexuality, abortion and contraception. It is time that the church recognise this!

I fear if it doesn’t then the important spiritual and holistic role it plays in society will continue to decline. – Yours, etc,

SEAN CASSIDY,

St Laurence’s Road,

Dublin 20.

Sir, – The resignation of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for health reasons is a cause of sorrow, throughout the Catholic world and among many other fellowships of Christians.

However, we pray that this time of peace will be greatly blessed by God’s presence – for the Holy Father – the true, loving and faithful God, whom he preached, wrote about and witnessed to, throughout his entire ministry as a priest, professor, bishop, cardinal and pope.

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May God bless our dear Holy Father in his retirement. May God the Holy Spirit inspire the next conclave of cardinals, in choosing a worthy successor to the venerable servant of God, Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. – Yours, etc,

Fr PATRICK McCAFFERTY,

Glen Road, Belfast.