Church’s leaders caught off guard by announcement

Catholic Church leaders in Ireland were caught by surprise at yesterday’s decision by Pope Benedict to resign on Feb 28 due to poor health, according to the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin.

He claimed the announcement was unexpected, despite recent signs about the increasing physical frailty of the 85-year-old pontiff.

Dr Martin urged Irish Catholics to pray for the Pope for his “courageous decision” and his future.