VATICAN CITY: People from around the world arrive at the Vatican to see Pope Benedict hold a general audience, his first public appearance since announcing his shock resignation

Record ID: 862247

  • Title: VATICAN CITY: People from around the world arrive at the Vatican to see Pope Benedict hold a general audience, his first public appearance since announcing his shock resignation
  • Date: 13th February 2013
  • Summary: VISITORS GOING THROUGH GATE PAST SWISS GUARDS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) UNIDENTIFIED SPANISH BISHOP, SAYING: "It's a very special day for everyone, very special. We've come to pray for the pope, to be close to him. It's the question for God. God will decide, God is always the church."
  • Embargoed: 28th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Vatican City State
  • City:
  • Country: Vatican City State
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9DRBMSZ5VC43G0Y8QKSI9UNVH
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Catholics from around the world flocked to the Vatican on Wednesday (February 13) morning, to witness Pope Benedict's first general audience since his surprise resignation announcement two days earlier.
    A long queue of pilgrims hoping to catch a last glimpse of the retiring pope snaked around the square while a children's choir from the UK sang religious songs.

    "It's a very special day for everyone, very special. We've come to pray for the pope, to be close to him. It's the question for God. God will decide, God is always the church," a Spanish bishop told Reuters TV as he entered the Vatican.

    "We can't believe what been, what's occurred, the decision he's come to whilst we've been in Rome. So we are really excited and we are also very lucky to be going to see this audience with the pope," school teacher Alison Watson from the UK said.
    Polish nun Sister Magdalena, who was only made a nun the day before, said she had mixed feelings about the resignation.

    "I have very mixed emotions because there's joy for my profession but I'm sad because the pope will no longer be pope," she said.
    Gerard and Vicky, newlyweds from Ireland were also going to the general audience, just two days after being married.

    "It's a privilege," said Gerard, "and an honour."

    "And it makes it even more special, yeah; good memories," Vicky said.
    The pope's shock announcement sent the Vatican scrambling to change venues of some papal activities so that more people can see him before the resignation.
    Later on Wednesday, the pope was to have led a traditional Ash Wednesday service at a small church in Rome but the event has been moved to St. Peter's Basilica to allow for larger crowds for what will likely be his last Mass in public.
    The pope's last general audience, scheduled for February 27, the day before his resignation, has been moved from the Vatican's audience hall, which has a capacity of some 10,000 people, to St. Peter's Square, which can hold hundreds of thousands.
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