Sinead O'Connor praises pope on resignation

London - Sinead O'Connor has congratulated Pope Benedict XVI on his resignation.

The pontiff will leave his role as the had of the Catholic Church at the end of the month and Sinead - whose issues with the church have been well documented - believes it is a good decision.

She wrote on her website: "I would like to congratulate Pope Benedict on his wise decision to retire before the very worst of what has been going on is discovered. I appreciate his alluding to some of it in his statement and assure him The Most High forgives those who can faithfully say they did wrong."

'Lies and blasphemies'

Sinead insisted retiring is the pope's greatest achievement.

She added: "The church has been brought into dreadful disrepute by lies and blasphemies against The Holy Spirit. Benedict's greatest achievement is this act of retiring. There is a chance now for the church to be re-built and made fit to house The Holy Spirit."

The outspoken Irish singer - who has children Jake, 24, Roisin, 16, Shane, eight, and Yeshua, six, from previous relationships - recently revealed she makes sure her offspring know how important it is to follow their dreams because they are the most important things in life.

Sinead said: "I always say to my kids the only purpose God put you on earth for is to be you 100 percent. To be who you are, that's success.

"Sometimes that means you may not have fame or a good name or money or stuff but that's not necessarily success, do you know what I mean? It's really can you be yourself and be true to your contract."