Cardinal Pell becomes second Cardinal to criticise Pope's decision

A few hours before the resignation of Pope Benedict, the highest ranking Australian cleric, Cardinal George Pell criticized the decision to abdicate. The 85 year old had thus made it harder for his successors, as "People who do not agree with future Pope can mount a campaign for their resignation," said Pell to an Australian TV station. Benedict XVI was "very aware" of the fact that his resignation was a "break with tradition" and that it was "rather destabilizing" for the Church. For the Pope's biographer Andreas Englisch, Pell is a prime candidate as the Pope's successor. The Archbishop of Sydney is considered to be progressive on social issues, but on matters of faith and morals is classified as a a conservative.

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On hearing of the Pope's decision Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, personal secretary of John Paul said the latter “led the church to the end because he was convinced that one doesn’t come down from the Cross.”

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