February 11, 2013
Pope attempted to restore stability to Church
Maori Catholics are acknowledging the contribution of Pope Benedict the 16th to the church.
The 85-year-old pontiff announced he will step down at the end of the month because of his declining health, the first pope to resign in 600 years.
Bob Newsom from Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa says he has been an important leader of the world's billion Catholics.
"He's left a lot of teachings, not just followed the previous popes. He stood out – he's gone into places many others had not been. This is the year of the Faith which he's declared and things like that – that he want's to bring back into the stability in the church," says Mr Newsom.