(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).
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