Brussels, 12/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy expressed their “emotion” on learning of Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign. Barroso praised the Pope's “spirit of reconciliation underpinning his ideas and action”. In a “tweet”, Van Rompuy declared: “I deeply respect the decision by Benedict XVI”. The President of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community), Cardinal Marx stated: “This decision fills me with great respect”. In his statement, he underlined Pope Benedict XVI's concerns about “the danger of Europe forgetting its Christian roots and eventually losing its soul”. (IL/transl.fl)