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• Cardinals begin long process of picking new pope
• Benedict's reign ends with a promise to obey next pope
• The Irish Are Gambling $7 Million on the Next Pope
• Benedict becomes 1st pope in 600 years to resign
• The Vatican Just Deleted All of Pope Benedict's Tweets
• POPE LIVE: End of a papacy, dawn of a retirement
• AP PHOTOS: Benedict's final day as pope
• Pope Benedict's ends pontificate, leaving papacy vacant
• Benedict XVI's papacy ends, making him first pope to retire in 600 years.
• Ethiopia elects new leader for Orthodox church
• Benedict XVI pledges support to successor on his last day as pope
• Pope, in final message, says he's a simple pilgrim
• Pope Benedict XVI's final public words as pontiff
• As Pope Benedict steps down, group asks U.N. to act on abuse
• POPE LIVE: A 'pilgrim,' a farewell, a retirement
• Pope Benedict quits Vatican with promise to obey successor
• Pope lands in temporary residence after leaving Vatican
• Town accustomed to pontiffs welcomes ex-pope
• Latin's top devotee quits, the pope who tweeted as Pontifex
• Pope leaves Vatican before abdication
• Pope Benedict bids final public farewell
• Benedict XVI greets faithful for last time as pope from balcony of papal retreat.
• Pope flies in helicopter to papal retreat
• Pope flies to papal retreat in helicopter
• Canadian Press NewsAletr: Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope
• POPE LIVE: Vatican departure, retirement ahead
• Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope, flies by helicopter to papal retreat.
• POPE LIVE: Preparation for exit, helicopter ready
• Factbox: Elaborate rituals leading to a new pope
• POPE LIVE: Swiss Guards, 15th century, tweets

Cardinals begin long process of picking new pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:00 PM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. Some details are still unclear, owing to Benedict's break with the tradition that papacies end with a pope's death, so these "princes of the Church" will first hold an informal session before traditional rounds of talks begin on Monday. ...

Benedict's reign ends with a promise to obey next pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 04:51 PM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict ended his difficult reign on Thursday pledging unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to guide the Roman Catholic Church at one of the most crisis-ridden periods in its 2,000-year history. The papacy became vacant at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT/2PM ET), marking the first time in six centuries a pope has resigned instead of ruling for life. ...

The Irish Are Gambling $7 Million on the Next Pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:09 PM PST Nobody knows for sure who will replace Pope Benedict XVI, who officially resigned from the papacy (and Twitter) on Thursday afternoon. But a lack of knowledge has never stopped people from gambling on uncertain outcomes — remember InTrade, when it was still legal in the U.S.? — and thousands of people are placing bets, with real money, on potential candidates for the 267th leader of the Catholic Church. But how much? Worldwide numbers are difficult to come by, since so many bets take place offline, typically among friends and co-workers (and priests, probably). ...

Benedict becomes 1st pope in 600 years to resign Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:02 PM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Benedict XVI left the Catholic Church in unprecedented limbo Thursday as he became the first pope in 600 years to resign, capping a tearful day of farewells that included an extraordinary pledge of obedience to his successor.

The Vatican Just Deleted All of Pope Benedict's Tweets Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:10 PM PST By now, we're all familiar with the rituals associated with the papacy changing hands—white smoke, the red shoes, free helicopter rides—but the Vatican has discovered a new one for the 21st century. Less than 30 minutes after Benedict XVI went from Pope to Pope Emeritus, the Vatican scrubbed his Twitter accounts, removing his name and deleting all of the tweets he's made since launching the account just two months ago. They've replaced his name with "Sede Vacante," the Latin term used to indicate the time periods when there is no pope. ...

POPE LIVE: End of a papacy, dawn of a retirement Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:48 AM PST "Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

AP PHOTOS: Benedict's final day as pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:44 AM PST Pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, has left Vatican City for scenic Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome, where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing. To a roaring cheer, Benedict appeared at the balcony of the palazzo and said he was happy to be "surrounded by the beauty of creation."

Pope Benedict's ends pontificate, leaving papacy vacant Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:05 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLOFO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict ended his eight-year reign on Thursday, 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 February 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. ...

Benedict XVI's papacy ends, making him first pope to retire in 600 years. Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:05 AM PST Benedict XVI's papacy ends, making him first pope to retire in 600 years.

Ethiopia elects new leader for Orthodox church Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia's orthodox church has elected a new leader of the influential body in the predominantly Christian nation.

Benedict XVI pledges support to successor on his last day as pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:29 AM PST Pope Benedict XVI marks his historic last day on the throne of St. Peter today, before becoming the first to resign from the papacy in 600 years. Benedict gave his final public mass on Wednesday and today sent off his 39th and ultimate tweet from his official papal Twitter account before boarding a helicopter bound for Castel Gandolfo, where he will begin his retirement.

Pope, in final message, says he's a simple pilgrim Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:16 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Benedict XVI greeted the faithful for the last time as pope on Thursday, telling tearful well-wishers that he is beginning the final stage of his life as "simply a pilgrim," hours before he becomes the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

Pope Benedict XVI's final public words as pontiff Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:03 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI delivered his final public words as pope on Thursday to well-wishers gathered at the papal vacation retreat in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome. Here is the translation of what he said, delivered to a roaring crowd:

As Pope Benedict steps down, group asks U.N. to act on abuse Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:58 AM PST ROME (Reuters) - On the final day of Pope Benedict's papacy, a victim support group asked the United Nations to censure the Vatican for failing to protect children from sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy. Speaking at a press conference meters from the walls of the Vatican City on Thursday, the head of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said his group had made a formal submission to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child. ...

POPE LIVE: A 'pilgrim,' a farewell, a retirement Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:33 AM PST "Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

Pope Benedict quits Vatican with promise to obey successor Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:20 AM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict left the Vatican on Thursday after pledging unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to guide the Roman Catholic Church at one of the most crisis-ridden periods in its 2,000-year history. The first pope in six centuries to step down, Benedict flew off in a white Italian air force helicopter for the papal summer villa south of the capital where he took up temporary residence. ...

Pope lands in temporary residence after leaving Vatican Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's helicopter landed in Castel Gandolfo, just south of Rome, on Thursday where at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT) he will resign and leave the papacy vacant. (Reporting by Philip Pullella)

Town accustomed to pontiffs welcomes ex-pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - The Italian hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo, summer host to popes for centuries, took on a new mission on Thursday as it became the temporary home of the first "pope emeritus". Pope Benedict will spend the first few months of his retirement in the papal summer residence, a complex of villas boasting lush gardens, a farm and stunning views over Lake Albano in the volcanic crater below the town. Locals set up banners and balloons in the square outside the Papal Palace on Thursday to welcome the pontiff, whose papacy was due to end at 8 p.m. ...

Latin's top devotee quits, the pope who tweeted as Pontifex Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - With Pope Benedict's abdication on Thursday, the most prominent living speaker of Latin will retire into the shadows, after doing much during his eight-year pontificate to give the language of ancient Rome a new lease of life. Benedictus, his name in Latin, set up the "Pontifical Academy of Latinity" to promote its use inside the Roman Catholic Church and beyond and chose to deliver his abdication speech in Latin, in what was considered a model of clarity. ...

Pope leaves Vatican before abdication Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict left the Vatican on Thursday and headed to the papal summer residence where he will become the first pontiff in six centuries to resign instead of ruling for life. A white Italian air force helicopter lifted off from the Vatican's heliport to fly the 85-year-old pope to Castel Gandolfo, just south of Rome, where at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT) he will resign and leave the papacy vacant. Before heading south, the helicopter circled Vatican City and flew over the Colosseum and other Rome landmarks to give the pontiff one last view of the city where he is also bishop. ...

Pope Benedict bids final public farewell Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said a final public farewell on Thursday before his pontificate ends, telling a crowd in front of his temporary residence outside Rome that he was preparing to enter the last phase of his life. "As you know today is different to previous ones. I will only be the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church until 8 p.m. (1900 GMT/ 2 p.m. ET)," he said. "After that I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting the last phase of his pilgrimage on this earth." (Reporting By Philip Pullella; editing by Barry Moody)

Benedict XVI greets faithful for last time as pope from balcony of papal retreat. Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST Benedict XVI greets faithful for last time as pope from balcony of papal retreat.

Pope flies in helicopter to papal retreat Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:31 AM PST VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the last time as pontiff on Thursday, flying by helicopter to the Vatican's vacation retreat hours before becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

Pope flies to papal retreat in helicopter Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:16 AM PST VATICAN CITY (AP) — Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the last time as pope, flying by helicopter to the Vatican's vacation retreat hours before becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.

Canadian Press NewsAletr: Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:16 AM PST VATICAN CITY - Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope, flies by helicopter to papal retreat.

POPE LIVE: Vatican departure, retirement ahead Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:11 AM PST "Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope, flies by helicopter to papal retreat. Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:08 AM PST Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope, flies by helicopter to papal retreat.

POPE LIVE: Preparation for exit, helicopter ready Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:54 AM PST "Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

Factbox: Elaborate rituals leading to a new pope Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:55 AM PST VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Roman Catholic Church has an elaborate procedure for choosing a new pope after the old one dies. Pope Benedict's surprise decision to resign changed some of the details but the process remains much the same. SEDE VACANTE When a pope dies or resigns, the Church enters a period known as "sede vacante" ("empty seat" or "vacant see") when the throne of St Peter is unoccupied. This period traditionally lasts several weeks as the late pope's body lies in state, his funeral is held and cardinals prepare for the conclave, the closed-door meeting to elect a papal successor. ...

POPE LIVE: Swiss Guards, 15th century, tweets Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:51 AM PST "Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

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