- Title: VATICAN/ITALY: Pope Benedict ends pontificate, leaving papacy vacant
- Date: 1st March 2013
- Summary: CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY (FEBRUARY 28, 2013) (REUTERS) SWISS GUARDS WITH OPEN DOOR BEHIND THEM MAN TELLING SWISS GUARDS TO CLOSE THE DOOR SWISS GUARDS WALKING INSIDE DOORS BEING CLOSED CLOSED DOOR VATICAN CITY, VATICAN (FEBRUARY 28, 2012) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ST. PETER'S SQUARE PAPAL APARTMENT OVERLOOKING ST. PETER'S SQUARE VARIOUS VISITORS ENTERING ST. PETER'S SQUARE PRIEST WALKING THROUGH SQUARE VARIOUS PEOPLE PRAYING IN FRONT OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA MEXICAN PRIEST WITH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRIEST FATHER MARIANO SAYING: "Well how do we feel? A bit nostalgic, but also a lot of happiness because as he said yesterday, to be in the church means also to take difficult decisions and this makes us happy and it comforts us. Because we know that he is leaving as a happy and contented man and strengthened. We just came from Castel Gandolfo and we saw his expression and it was one of happiness." PILGRIMS APPLAUDING AS CHURCH BELLS STRIKE EIGHT O'CLOCK CLOCK FACE SHOWING EIGHT O'CLOCK VARIOUS GERMAN PRIESTS PRAYING AND BOWING IN SQUARE AS BELLS STRIKE EIGHT O'CLOCK PEOPLE EXITING SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, CARLA FRANCINI SAYING: "I didn't think about sadness or happiness. I thought about this historic moment, historic socially, economically and also religiously. Certainly we are living in a very complex period with great challenges but also a time of great possibilities." PEOPLE IN SQUARE VARIOUS PEOPLE SINGING HYMNS IN SQUARE AND MAN PLAYING GUITAR SWISS GUARDS NEXT TO ST. PETER'S BASILICA ST. PETER'S BASILICA STATUE OF ST. PETER IN SQUARE ST. PETER'S FACADE
- Embargoed: 16th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAE1SJ4WGM7UI6QJP1MX4EWVR8I
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Pope Benedict ended his eight-year reign on Thursday (February 28), becoming the first pontiff in six centuries to resign instead of ruling for life.
The papacy became officially vacant at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT/2 p.m. ET) in keeping with the pope's wishes when he announced his decision to resign on Feb. 11.
The yellow and white papal flag was lowered and the Swiss Guard sentries withdrew from the entrance to the papal summer residence south of Rome as the massive wooden doors of the hilltop building were closed.
In St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, Mexican priest Father Mariano summed up his feelings, ""Well how do we feel? A bit nostalgic, but also a lot of happiness because as he said yesterday, to be in the church means also to take difficult decisions and this makes us happy and it comforts us. Because we know that he is leaving as a happy and contented man and strengthened. We just came from Castel Gandolfo and we saw his expression and it was one of happiness."
Roman resident Carla Francini said, "I didn't think about sadness or happiness. I thought about this historic moment, historic socially, economically and also religiously. Certainly we are living in a very complex period with great challenges but also a time of great possibilities."
Cardinals who have assembled from around the world for Benedict's farewell will now begin planning the closed-door conclave that will elect his successor. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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