A brave and unequivocal apology from Rowan Williams to women priests. He did not try to explain it away either. It takes strength of character. The pope did not manage this over his carefully chosen words regarding a Muslim emperor, words that ruined an otherwise interesting (to be disagreed with) lecture. Now the pope may have to find words for 1204.

Recently he wrote a book written since his papacy that he describes as private views and not Catholic doctrine, which by stealth is a huge revision of the myth of papacy. He wants to keep being a scholar, which means open to argument including by other Catholics. I wonder if this could be a means to revise the understanding of papacy and therefore have a means of getting closer to the Orthodox. There is always the possibility that Pope Benedict might surprise, though he shows contradictory tendencies. If John Paul II wanted to find a way to be pope acceptable to the Orthodox, Benedict XVI might find it. Might. It is another question as to what difference if any this makes in contemporary society: this pope is also interested in contemporary society. Decline and unity have a habit of going together, just like expansion and division.

"I am very, very deeply sorry for that" -- gracious words; and he seems to have caught the ear of Benedict on women priests -- remarkable!