In Germany, Angela Merkel has given her reaction to the resignation of Pope Benedict, who was born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria in 1927. Merkel thanked the pope for his work as head of the Catholic church,Kate Connolly reports from Berlin, and said his decision to resign was to be given "the absolute highest respect".
Benedict, she said, "is and remains one of the most important religious thinkers of our time". She added that if he was too weak to fulfil his duties, that had to be respected. "In an age like ours when people live ever longer, many people will understand that even the pope has to come to terms with the burdens of ageing."
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