Leaders of the Catholic Church in Scotland have expressed their shock and sadness after Pope Benedict XVI announced he is leaving office.
The pontiff announced that he is stepping down on grounds of age and infirmity.
He will resign as leader of the more than a billion-strong Catholic Church on February 28, and is the first pope to do so in almost 600 years.
Pope Benedict has held the position since 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Scotland's most senior Catholic, called on members of the community to pray for the 85-year-old pontiff as his health deteriorates.
"Like many people throughout the world, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to resign," he said.
"I know that his decision will have been considered most carefully and that it has come after much prayer and reflection.
"I will offer my prayers for Pope Benedict and call on the Catholic community of Scotland to join me in praying for him at this time of deterioration in his health as he recognises his incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to him.
"I hope I will also be able to rely on the prayers of Catholics across the world for the Cardinal Electors as we prepare to travel to Rome in order to participate in the conclave, which will be convoked to elect a successor as Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff."
Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow and the former Bishop of Paisley, said: "We've all been surprised and shocked, it was very unexpected. I think we're all really trying to get our head round it - both people like myself and people from the Catholic community."
