Papal resignation: reaction of CCEE (full text)

(Vatican Radio) Following Pope Benedict XVI announcement of his resignation from the See of Rome, effective February 28th, 2013 at 8 PM Rome Time, Church leaders from all around the world have been sending expressions of surprise and gratitude for the Holy Father's service, along with prayerful best wishes for his retirement. Please find, below, the full text of the statement from the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE).

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To His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City
Most Holy Father,

Having heard this morning the news of your decision to renounce the role of Supreme
Pontiff, we wish to express, on behalf of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences
(CCEE), our heartfelt thanks to Your Holiness for the faithful and courageous service with
which you have led the Church in recent years. We give thanks to the Lord for your rich
Magisterium, for your messages, the care with which you have always accompanied the
European bishops, and your personal witness of faith and trust in the Lord, in which you
have expressed such great love for the whole of the Church.
At this moment we wish to assure Your Holiness of our spiritual closeness, and assure you
that we continue to serve the Church with the same enthusiasm and faith which you have
shown and taught.
With our prayers we accompany you at this time of great challenges and change, imploring
the divine help of the Holy Spirit for yourself and the Catholic Church.

Péter Cardinal Erdő
Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest
CCEE President

Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco
Archbishop of Genoa
CCEE Vice-President

Mgr Józef Michalik
Archbishop of Przemyśl
CCEE Vice-President