VATICAN CITY: Head of a faith-based think thank says a clear frontrunner should have emerged in first conclave as crowds gather in St. Peter's Square, praying and hoping to witness the election of a new pope

Record ID: 863399

  • Title: VATICAN CITY: Head of a faith-based think thank says a clear frontrunner should have emerged in first conclave as crowds gather in St. Peter's Square, praying and hoping to witness the election of a new pope
  • Date: 13th March 2013
  • Summary: VATICAN (MARCH 13, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE MAXI SCREEN SHOWING CHIMNEY IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE PEOPLE ARRIVING IN SQUARE CHIMNEY GROUP OF PEOPLE PRAYING IN SQUARE WOMAN HOLDING ROSARY BEADS PRAYING VARIOUS OF GROUP PRAYING GROUP OF SPANISH NUNS PRAYING ROSARY IN NUN'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SISTER MONICA SAYING: "Well, if the new pope comes out today it would be really great but if he comes out tomorrow, that's just as fine. We need to let them take the right steps but man, to be honest, I'd be really happy if he came out today." VARIOUS OF AFRICAN NUN UNDER UMBRELLA LOOKING UP TO CHIMNEY FATHER ROBERT SIRICO, PRESIDENT OF ACTON INSTITUTE, IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER ROBERT SIRICO, PRESIDENT OF FAITH-BASED THINK TANK ACTON INSTITUTE, SAYING: "Last night was very important because that gave them a sense of who was really potential. No one knew who the real frontrunners were until last night." FATHER SIRICO'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER ROBERT SIRICO, PRESIDENT OF FAITH-BASED THINK TANK ACTON INSTITUTE, SAYING: "The last thing the cardinals want is a conclave that lasts for a week, much less two weeks or two years as it once happened hundreds and hundreds of years ago. And I think it's important to understand that those blocs are not based on nationhood, there are some who will want to, say from the South or from Africa, but in general it's based on certain sets of priorities that the cardinals will determine and on those issues they disagree: is the reform of the Roman Curia more important than handling the sexual abuse crisis? Is the new evangelisation a higher priority than liturgical reform? Those are the kinds of issues and those are the blocs that will form." BARRIERS BEING BROUGHT IN SQUARE BY TRACTOR VARIOUS OF BARRIERS BEING SET UP PILGRIMS UNDER UMBRELLAS IN SQUARE WITH MEDIA IN BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 28th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Vatican City State
  • City:
  • Country: Vatican City State
  • Topics: Police,Politics,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACRAK07RP5T62GIBCIJL7T3MQX
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Pilgrims and tourists from around gathered at St. Peter's square on Wednesday (March 13) hoping to get a glimpse of history as they waited for smoke to emerge from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
    Pilgrims across the square could be seen forming groups to hold prayers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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