Statement of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, Kraków Metropolitan after receiving the news on Holy Father Benedict XVI’s abdication
I greet Holy Father Benedict XVI’s decision on his resignation from the position of Church leader and handing over the concern of its future to the College of Cardinals with great sobriety and emotion. I understand the motivation the Pope presented to the consistory participants. After John Paul II, Benedict XVI led the Christ’s Church with great wisdom and deliberation resulting from his unusual intellectual abilities and deep faith. I thank Holy Father for all his efforts leading to the renewal of Church in the spirit of faithfulness to our Master from Nazareth. As a Polish bishop, I assure him that we will remain grateful for his friendship with John Paul II, for his beatification and for his exceptional kindness to the Polish nation. Personally, I will remain faithful to him and grateful for everything I received from him.
The Kraków Church will always remain grateful to Peter of our times Benedict XVI; its gratefulness and faithfulness will both be expressed by prayer and respect. Together with Holy Father Benedict XVI, I trust the Holy Spirit and the Mother of the Church, Our Lady of Lourdes, the patron of today.
