“When I saw the headline my first reaction was ‘this must be something from The Onion’.”  – Brian Finnerty, U.S. Communications Director for Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic institution.

“It’s a really sobering thing to remember that we’re all just human. Popes are people too.” – Christine McCarthy, a member of the Community of Sant’ Egidio and theologian at Fordham University.

“This hasn’t happened in several centuries so it’s a total shock for a lot of us in the church, but we embrace the Holy Father’s decision, after all he’s human and he has contributed all his life to the church in all his capacities and now as Pope… We wish him well, we love him, and we thank him for all the contributions he has given to the church, and he will still be here for a number of years, whenever the Lord calls him he will be a great presence still.” – Jose Aldaz, concert pianist and usher at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“I hope for a leader for the Roman Catholics as I would for my own Anglican communion—someone who is able to go to those different places and listen and remind us of the things that bind us all together—which is that we’re followers of Jesus.” -Archdeacon William Clay Parnell of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

“[The resignation] elevates the national dialogue…even for those who aren’t religious. Anything that stimulates a religious dialogue is a positive thing.” –Don Gillmore, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Harlem Ward.

“We have a lot of mixed Catholics here, but there’s not much to it.  We have our own issues and scandals, so on that level we can relate to the Catholic Church, but other than that, it’s just another news story.” -Vicki Filippin Pastor of Church of the Village, a Methodist Church.

“If [the Catholic Church] really wanted to show a willingness to change they’d elect a female pope.  I’m willing to guess he’s going be Italian or German…European.  It’s a chance for change, but I think it’ll be more of the same.”  -Luis Vega, member of Church of the Village.

“I’d like to see no next pope. The pope role is an icon role.  [Catholics] need to understand what the Bible says about Jesus. Some of them are biblically illiterate. They shouldn’t be longing for a pope. They should be longing for the Holy Spirit.” – Anthony Patterson, member of Times Square Church, an interdenominational church.

“The church generally needs to be more accommodating to modern views. The pope’s predecessor was conservative as well but he seemed to be more in tune with everyday people.” –Rosita Elias, Roman Catholic.

“As a woman I want someone who pays more attention to our rights. The church needs to evolve.”- Julianna Brouwer, Roman Catholic.

“A rebbe never retires – even those suffering from illness.” –Rabbi Ysoscher Katz of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School.

“We see the Pope’s resignation as a responsible act of a man who is probably still in control of his faculties and knows when to retire.” – Shimshon Wiesel, a Yeshivish New York-based blogger.

“Those of us who have watched Pope Benedict and his predecessor Pope John Paul II work to lessen the estrangement between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches hope that Pope Benedict’s successor will continue on the same path.” -Rev. Johannes L. Jacobse of St. Peter Orthodox Church.