Showing posts with label Pope Benedict XVI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pope Benedict XVI. Show all posts
Saturday, March 16, 2013
POPE FRANCIS: Argentina's Bergoglio Named New Pope
Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the troubled Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, taking the name Francis and becoming the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years.
Pope Francis, 76, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica just over an hour after white smoke poured from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel to signal 115 cardinal electors had chosen him to lead the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
"Pray for me," the new pontiff, dressed in the white robes of a pope for the first time, urged the crowd, smiling warmly.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI to step down on February 28
Pope Benedict XVI on Monday, February 11, announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman told AFP, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries.
"The Pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on February 28," said the spokesman, Federico Lombardi.
In a message, the Pope cited health reasons for stepping down. "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," he said.
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