Pope to Bid Public Farewell on February 27
A Vatican spokesman says Pope Benedict will publicly say farewell to Roman
Catholics on February 27, a day before his formal resignation.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters, on Tuesday, that the pontiff will hold a "final audience" on the 27 in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said it expects a new pontiff to be elected before Easter.
Pope Benedict shocked the world with a surprise resignation announcement on Monday. The leaders of the church will elect a new pontiff in a conclave of cardinals after the pope officially steps down.
The pope, a German formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said he is leaving because his advancing age was making it difficult to carry out his duties.
On Tuesday, the Vatican publicly acknowledged for the first time that the 85-year-old pontiff has a pacemaker. Lombardi said it had been installed "some time ago" and that its batteries had been replaced three months ago.
Pope Benedict will be the first pope to resign from his post since the year 1415, when Pope Gregory stepped down to resolve conflicting claims over the leadership of a church that now serves some 1.2 billion followers worldwide.
Vatican officials said Tuesday that Pope Benedict had no intentions of trying to influence the decisions of his successor. The pope's health has visibly weakened in his eight years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, one of the shortest papal terms in modern history. A pope's travel schedule can be taxing, and his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, has told reporters the pontiff had been advised by his doctor not to make any more transatlantic trips.
Many of those followers continue to express shock at the news. In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the resignation was unexpected, even though he knew the pope's health was failing.
"Like many others, I am surprised, almost shocked by the resignation. Because while I know that he is really weak, I did not expect it to happen too soon."
Pope Benedict's rule has been tainted by a child sex abuse scandal that began long before he ascended to the papacy and only deepened as more cases of priests molesting children emerged, particularly in the United States and in Ireland. Last year, he faced a new scandal when his butler was found to be the source of leaked documents alleging corruption in the Vatican's business dealings. Pope Benedict also has been criticized for inflexibility on Church dogmas.
In contrast, he has received praise for instituting a financial watchdog over the Vatican's financial dealings and becoming the first pope to communicate with followers via social media.
Pope Benedict Bio
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-to-bid-public-farewell-on-february-27/1601908.html
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters, on Tuesday, that the pontiff will hold a "final audience" on the 27 in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said it expects a new pontiff to be elected before Easter.
Pope Benedict shocked the world with a surprise resignation announcement on Monday. The leaders of the church will elect a new pontiff in a conclave of cardinals after the pope officially steps down.
The pope, a German formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said he is leaving because his advancing age was making it difficult to carry out his duties.
On Tuesday, the Vatican publicly acknowledged for the first time that the 85-year-old pontiff has a pacemaker. Lombardi said it had been installed "some time ago" and that its batteries had been replaced three months ago.
Pope Benedict will be the first pope to resign from his post since the year 1415, when Pope Gregory stepped down to resolve conflicting claims over the leadership of a church that now serves some 1.2 billion followers worldwide.
Vatican officials said Tuesday that Pope Benedict had no intentions of trying to influence the decisions of his successor. The pope's health has visibly weakened in his eight years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, one of the shortest papal terms in modern history. A pope's travel schedule can be taxing, and his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, has told reporters the pontiff had been advised by his doctor not to make any more transatlantic trips.
Many of those followers continue to express shock at the news. In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the resignation was unexpected, even though he knew the pope's health was failing.
"Like many others, I am surprised, almost shocked by the resignation. Because while I know that he is really weak, I did not expect it to happen too soon."
Pope Benedict's rule has been tainted by a child sex abuse scandal that began long before he ascended to the papacy and only deepened as more cases of priests molesting children emerged, particularly in the United States and in Ireland. Last year, he faced a new scandal when his butler was found to be the source of leaked documents alleging corruption in the Vatican's business dealings. Pope Benedict also has been criticized for inflexibility on Church dogmas.
In contrast, he has received praise for instituting a financial watchdog over the Vatican's financial dealings and becoming the first pope to communicate with followers via social media.
Pope Benedict Bio
- Became one of the oldest new popes when elected in 2005 at age of 78
- Headed Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before becoming pope
- Named Cardinal of Munich in 1977
- Taught at several universities from 1959 to 1966
- Joined the Hitler Youth in 1941 when it became compulsory for all German boys
- Born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927 in Bavaria's Marktl am Inn, son of a police officer
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-to-bid-public-farewell-on-february-27/1601908.html
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