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Pope springs a surprise

Rome: Pope Benedict XVI signalled a dramatic break with the past on Saturday when he acknowledged the plight of divorcees who are banned from taking Communion after remarriage and appealed to a Vatican tribunal to issue "rapid" rulings on annulment requests. It was the second time this week that the Pope has displayed strong liberal leanings, confounding his critics and the world's Catholics and showing another side to his previously stern image. On Saturday he directly addressed a central tenet of Catholic doctrine that has caused distress to many followers of the church, which states that remarried divorcees are regarded as being in a permanent state of sin and cannot receive Communion. An annulment means that a marriage was invalid, leaving the faithful free to remarry and receive Communion.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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