Scots remember Pope Benedict as 'kind, gentle man'<br /><br />Scots have paid tribute to the late Pope Benedict XVI as a kind and gentle man in requiem masses across Scotland.<br /><br />They took place as Pope Francis presided over Benedict's funeral at St Peter's basilica at the Vatican.<br /><br />Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh, who previously worked in the Holy See's entourage, said he treated everyone with "great courtesy".<br /><br />He said Benedict had enjoyed his visit to Scotland in 2010 when thousands saw him give mass at Bellahouston Park.<br /><br />Benedict was the first pontiff to visit Scotland in 28 years, after Pope John Paul II gave mass at the same park in 1982.<br /><br />Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan, who gave requiem mass in Glasgow Cathedral, said Benedict was seen by the media as "God's Rottweiler" before he became pope.<br /><br />But he said everyone who met him realised that was not the case.<br /><br />"If you remember his visit back in 2010 there was a lot of negativity before he came to the UK", said Archbishop Nolan.<br /><br />"But once people met him and listened to him, they saw he was a completely different character altogether.<br /><br />"He was really very much a Bavarian gentleman, a man of faith, someone who sought to serve God to the best of his ability."<br />Archbishop Nolan added that Benedict's resignation showed "humility" - but also set a precedent for future popes "that will be followed".<br /><br />He said: "Already Pope Francis has indicated that if he feels he's not able to continue then he will follow the example of Benedict and step aside.<br /><br />"I know there is a committee in Rome already looking at what should happen - we need some kind of protocols in place if this is going to be a common occurrence as to what happens when someone does step down.<br /><br />"We'll certainly see popes in the future retiring and stepping aside once they feel they're no longer able to continue."
