Philadelphia-Area Catholics React to Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

By Jim Melwert
CBS Philly
February 11, 2013

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/02/11/philadelphia-area-catholics-react-to-resignation-of-pope-benedict-xvi/

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

[with audio] PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The announcement of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation (see related story) comes as a surprise to Vatican insiders, and especially to Philadelphia-area Catholics. Some church-goers at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul hadn’t even heard the news when they arrived for morning mass, today.

For one woman, the first thing she thought of was the Pope’s planned visit to Philadelphia (see related story), “In 2015, so I don’t know where that leaves us because we made all the arrangements for him to be here. So, I don’t know.”

As far as Pope Benedict’s legacy, people say it’s hard to follow someone as popular as Pope John Paul II, but one woman said she believes Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) was running the Vatican leading up to Pope John Paul II’s death.

Listen to KYW Newsradio’s Harry Donahue discuss the Pope’s resignation with Vatican observer Rocco Palmo: