 Pope makes first public appearance since resignation announcement February 13, 2013 - 12:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Pope Benedict XVI is making his first public appearance since his bombshell announcement of his resignation, presiding over his weekly general audience and Ash Wednesday services, The Associated Press reports. Thousands of people are expected to fill the Vatican audience hall on Wednesday, Feb 13 morning for the audience, which will be his second to last public audience before stepping down Feb 28. Later in the day, the 85-year-old Benedict will celebrate Ash Wednesday, the official start of the Catholic Church's solemn Lenten season. The service is usually held in a church on Rome's Aventine hill, but was moved at the last minute to St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican said the shift was made to accommodate the crowds, though it will also spare the pope the usual procession to the church. Partner news  Top stories The bomber set off his explosives outside the gate of the United Nations Development Program base before attackers ran inside. Hamid Karzai accused Washington of mixed messages regarding peace talks with the Taliban, his spokesman said. The deal is estimated at $700mln-$1bln, Vedomosti newspaper reported citing sources in the Russian defense industry. Ahmadinejad will be replaced by Hassan Rowhani as president on August 3 following presidential elections last week.   Partner news |  Latest news Parliament approves amendments to law on minimum wage rate  Besides, new scale of salaries will be introduced, according to which the minimum wage rate will be doubled by 2017.FBI head admits use of drones for surveillance in U.S. The use of such drones is politically charged and civil-rights advocates say there are no clear privacy rules governing their use.Bombs flatten police station in Libya’s Benghazi Last month the station was set on fire in a possible act of revenge for the killing of a man in an attack on police nearby.New safety requirements for Japan atomic plants formally approved The new requirements approved by nuclear watchdog will take effect on July 8, when operators will be able to apply for inspections. |
