FORMER Clydebank priest Archbishop Philip Tartaglia has told of his "surprise" at the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope - who will step down at the end of the month - announced his decision yesterday, in a move which shocked the Catholic church.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said: "I was very surprised, as we all were, to hear the news.

"My immediate thoughts were that I would miss him enormously. On a personal note he was the Pope who appointed me as a Bishop, first in Paisley and then last year he asked me to become Archbishop of Glasgow.

"While I was Bishop of Paisley, I had 15 minutes alone with him to present my five-yearly report on the life of the local Church and I remember being struck by his great kindness - he was so gentle and humble, preferring to listen to me rather than speak himself.

"When he came to Scotland, I had the privilege of seeing him off at Glasgow Airport. He was clearly pleased, and a little relieved I think, with the first day of his visit to Great Britain and he took my hand in his, and said, in Italian: "Si vede che qu� la Chiesa � viva" - It's clear that the Church is alive here.

"As we look to the immediate future we recognise that this is an unprecedented time for the Church. No Pope has resigned since Celestine V in the 13th century. Pope Benedict will cease to be Bishop of Rome and Successor of St. Peter on 28th February. He has indicated that he will dedicate himself to a life of prayer thereafter. We have no more detail on that, nor as to where and how it will happen."