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National & World News
Cardinals summoned to Rome as Pope Emeritus begins new life
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After Pope Benedict XVI officially became pope emeritus, he ate dinner, watched the television news and strolled through the lake-view rooms of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said he spoke March 1 with …
Twitter account @Pontifex has tweets deleted, Benedict XVI’s coat of arms taken off Vatican website
By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph When the papacy of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, ended at 8 p.m. Rome time Thursday, immediate changes took place in the digital realm. When the doors were closed at Castel Gandolfo, the 39 tweets sent out by Benedict XVI as @Pontifex were …
Sede Vacante: The seat is vacant
UPDATE: For more up to date information, visit Conclave Central. Effective Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. in Rome, the papacy of Benedict XVI came to an end. With that, the Catholic Church entered a period of sede vacante. Sede vacante is Latin for “the seat being empty” …
Final Address: Pope says he’s going from humble servant to simple pilgrim
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy () — Pope Benedict XVI, who began his papacy describing himself as a “humble servant in the Lord’s vineyard,” described his retirement as a time of being a “simple pilgrim, who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on this earth.” …
Last day on the job: Pope Benedict pledges obedience to next pontiff
By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Clementine Hall is traditionally the place where cardinals bid farewell to popes at the end of a pontificate, but usually when the pope in question is lying in state before his funeral. But on Feb. 28, hours before resigning …
In final General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI says ‘not abandoning the cross’
By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph ROME — More than 150,000 pilgrims turned out for Pope Benedict XVI’s final general audience Wednesday Morning in St. Peter’s Square. Millions more around the world watched the audience via EWTN and a live feed on the Vatican’s website. Others followed online as The …
Official title for post-resignation Pope Benedict XVI revealed
The well-known Catholic blog Whispers in the Loggia reports that one of the most often asked questions of the papal transition has been answered. When Pope Benedict XVI resigns his office Thursday at 8 p.m. Rome time (2 p.m. Eastern), he will be called “His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope-Emeritus.” There had …
Changing rules, pope allows cardinals to move up conclave date
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his last week as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules for conclaves, including a clause that allows the College of Cardinals to move up the date for the beginning of the conclave to elect his successor. However, the …
Britain’s ranking cleric Cardinal Keith O’Brien resigns, will skip conclave
Facing allegations of inappropriate relationships and conduct with several priests in the 1980s, Cardinal Keith O’Brien has announced that he sent his resignation in to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago as a result of “indifferent health.” USA Today reports that the 75-year-old Cardinal O’Brien is the leader of the Roman …
Pope Benedict XVI’s last Angelus address: ‘This does not mean abandoning the Church’
Pope Benedict XVI delivered his final Sunday Angelus address before a packed St. Peter’s Square. The pilgrims in attendance interrupted his address with applause more than once and he closed by stressing that his resignation is not an abandoning of the Church. After reflecting on the Gospel of Luke’s account …
