The news that the pontiff would step down earned an immediate outpouring of tributes matched only by speculation about his health, about his future and that of a church in transition. Perhaps nowhere outside of the Vatican was it bigger news than Germany, where even non-Catholics took inordinate pride in their countryman\u2019s leading the Roman Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
The Web site of the newspaper Bild, which famously declared \u201cWe Are Pope\u201d\u009d nearly eight years ago when Benedict was elected, ran an enormous headline that read \u201cOur German Pope Benedict Steps Down,\u201d\u009d followed by his entire statement in German on a slightly mottled brown background, as if it were old parchment.<\/p>\n
Chancellor Angela Merkel recalled the pride that Germans felt to see one of their own elected by his fellow cardinals but also expressed understanding that he could not continue. \u201cIn our age of ever longer lives, many people will also be able to understand how the Pope must deal with the burdens of aging,\u201d\u009d Ms. Merkel said.<\/p>\n