Catholic theologian reacts to the Pope's resignation

Paul D. Murray, Director of the Durham University's prestigious Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University, gives his reaction to the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. In the aftermath of the news from the Vatican, Professor Murray was in demand for his learned opinion from national and regional BBC radio stations as well other broadcasters, online news organisations and regional newspapers. He said: "Although he had earlier indicated that a pope could conceivably resign on grounds of ill health, Pope Benedict XVI surprised the world today. "This is an event of immense significance. The irony is that for a Pope whose primacy has been characterised by caution and relative ecclesial conservatism, the act for which he is likely to be longest remembered is a bold innovation in the very exercise of the papal office. "Not only is Pope Benedict XVI's announcement the first papal abdication in the modern period, it is arguably the first truly voluntary abdication in papal history. "There have been a small number of previous examples of popes resigning - in various circumstances - but this has a very strong claim to being the first example of an entirely voluntary resignation.