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News/International

A Swiss Guard salutes as U.S. Cardinals Roger M. Mahony, retired archbishop of Los Angeles, Edward M. Egan, retired archbishop of New York, and Donald W. Wuerl of Washington arrive for the first general congregation meeting in the synod hall at the Vatic an March 4.

Cardinals begin pre-conclave meetings at Vatican

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The College of Cardinals began their formal pre-conclave meetings March 4 with 142 members present, 103 of whom are under the age of 80 and eligible to enter the conclave to vote for a new pope.

Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, center with red skull cap, prays with assistants as the ceremonies and tasks of the "sede vacante" begin at the Vatican Feb. 28. The red velvet-covered scepter before him is the symbol of his authority as camerlengo or chamberlain. He is charged with administering the temporal goods of the church following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

The anticipation and anxiety of waiting for a new pope

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VATICAN CITY - The period immediately following a pontificate is one of excited speculation, more or less loose, about the identity of the next pope.

Peruvian Archbishop Ricardo Barreto toured Canada in February to help D&P launch its annual Lenten campaign.

Capitalism a savage way for Latin America’s poor

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TORONTO - You won’t find the word “savagery” in most economic textbooks, but neither will you find the word “faith.” But savagery and faith are the words Jesuit Archbishop Ricardo Barreto of Huancayo, Peru, uses to describe the economic choices before Latin America.

detail of the hand and key from the statue of St. Peter is seen in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 28 after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from the papacy. The world's cardinals will now set about the task of convening a conclave to elect a new pope.

Cardinals' meetings begin with business, then look toward choosing pope

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VATICAN CITY - The world's cardinals were to begin meetings at the Vatican March 4, and while onlookers are focused on who may be the next pope, the cardinals have business to deal with.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, South Africa, is pictured before an interview at the Irish Franciscan College in Rome March 1. Cardinal Napier said that although the cardinals electors want to return to their dioceses for Easter, they don't want to sp eed the process to elect a new pope.

Cardinals' Catch-22: eager for conclave, but need time to choose well

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VATICAN CITY - Cardinal-electors are caught in a Catch-22. They are eager to give the world a new pope; however, they need time to pick the right leader, said South Africa's cardinal.

Clergy and Vatican workers wave from a rooftop as the helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Vatican on its way to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Feb. 28.

Pope Benedict's last trip is 15-minute helicopter ride

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI's final trip as pope was a 15-minute helicopter ride from the Vatican to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses people gathered in the town square after arriving in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Feb. 28. It was his final public appearance before he drew to a close his papacy. "I am a simple pilgrim who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on this earth," he told the crowd.

Pope says he's going from humble servant to simple pilgrim

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CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI, who began his papacy describing himself as a "humble servant in the Lord's vineyard," described his retirement as a time of being a "simple pilgrim, who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on this earth."

Mexican seminarians who study in Rome hold a sign in Spanish saying, "The greatness of a man in the humility of a pope," as they wait for the start of Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 27.

Faithful throw big farewell at Pope's last general audience

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VATICAN CITY - The last general audience in St. Peter's Square turned into a farewell party with balloons, flowers, flags, posters, cheers, standing ovations and a touching thank-you speech from Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final Angelus as Pope from the window of his apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 24. His papacy officially ended Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Rome time.

Pope’s final Angelus draws 150,000+

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VATICAN CITY - In one of his last public appearances, Pope Benedict XVI told an overflow crowd in St. Peter's Square Feb. 24 that his upcoming retirement does not mean he is abandoning the church, but that he will be serving it in a new way, through prayer and meditation.

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead his final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 27.

Pope delivers personal, emotional farewell address at audience

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VATICAN CITY - On his last full day as Pope, Pope Benedict XVI delivered an unusually personal and emotional farewell address, thanking the faithful around the world for their support and assuring them that he would remain in their service even in retirement.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd as he leads his final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 27.

Pope offers thanks to God for support over the years

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The following is the text from Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience at the Vatican Feb. 27.

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