The papal resignation that shocked the Roman Catholic Church has also prompted a stunned reaction from Malta’s leaders.

“The news of the Pope’s resignation took everyone by surprise,” Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told The Times, adding he admired his courage: “He did not fear taking a decision that hasn’t been taken in 600 years.”

The Pope, he said, acted in the best interests of the Church and this augured well for the Catholic Church: “I admire this Pope who had to face many difficulties during his papacy and managed to address very difficult situations with a Christian spirit.”

President George Abela told The Times that like everyone else he was taken completely by surprise by the announcement of the resignation.

“Nevertheless, with the benefit of hindsight, I recall that His Holiness had, in fact, hinted at such a possibility in his writing The Light of the Word,” Dr Abela said.

Dr Abela, who met Pope Benedict three times, described him as “a man of great learning and culture, with a sharp intellect”.

He said that, contrary to the impression given by some sectors of the media, he found His Holiness to be “extremely human and approachable” each time he met him, and he was always “generous with his time and ready to listen”.

President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami concurred. He recalled that what struck him most when he met Benedict XVI was how “unpretentious” he was.

“He immediately made you feel at home and was always very forthcoming and friendly.”

Dr Fenech Adami hailed the Pope’s courage: “His resignation means he has full confidence that there will be someone after him who will be doing good work for the Church.”

He expressed his hope that his successor “would be one who speaks the truth”.

President Abela said that it was too early to speculate about the possible successor but history showed that the Church produced “admirable men who are in touch with the spirit of the times”.

“A new Pope will assess what is required right now in the light of new challenges – he might, conceivably, decide to summon a new Ecumenical Council as Vatican II was held half a century ago,” he said.