For Pakistan, Pope Benedict XVI was a bulwark of religious freedom

(Feb.13, 2013) The announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation caught many in Pakistan by surprise, not only among leaders in the Church, but also in the government. Both Christians and Muslims praised the act of courage and honesty by the Pope, who is deeply respected in the Asian nation as well as around the world. For Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Pope Benedict is a man of great courage, a source of inspiration. He said it was a great honour to serve the Church under the leadership of someone with such a deep vision of the world and of the faith.
Paul Bhatti, a Catholic and federal national harmony minister said he was saddened when he heard Pope Benedict’s speech, and praised his profound courage, honesty and sense of responsibility. He recalled the Pope’s commitment to minorities in Pakistan and religious freedom in the world. He said “At each incident of anti-Christian persecution, he always intervened with prayers and words of comfort. He also remembered the pope's emotion after his brother Shabbaz, a Minority Affairs minister was killed by Muslim extremists in March 2011.
Pakistani media, cabinet colleagues and Muslim leaders were struck and saddened by Pope Benedict’s decision. Many already want to know about the future pope. They hope he will be as attentive to the Muslim world and interfaith dialogue as Pope Benedict XVI was.