Vatican
City, 12 February 2013
(VIS) – Wednesday, 13 February at 5:00pm, the Holy Father will
celebrate the rite of blessing and imposition of ashes in the Vatican
Basilica, instead of the Roman Basilica of Santa Sabina, where the
celebration is traditionally held. The reason, as Fr. Federico
Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, explained, is that,
as this will be Benedict XVI's last public concelebration, a large
number of participants is expected.
For
the same reason, the Pope's annual meeting with the pastors of Rome,
scheduled to take place on 14 February, will take place in the Paul
VI Hall and will focus on―according
to Fr. Lombardi's information―Vatican Council II, as the Roman
clergy requested. Also, in expectation of great numbers, Benedict
XVI's last general audience, scheduled for 27 February in the Paul VI
Hall, will probably be moved to St. Peter's Square.
"The
Pope is well," Fr. Lombardi said, "and his soul is serene.
He did not resign the pontificate because he is ill but because of
the fragility that comes with old age," he affirmed, recalling
that the pontiff, recently underwent an entirely routine procedure to
replace the battery of the pacemaker he wears, but that this had no
impact on his decision. Likewise, Fr. Lombardi explained, the trip to
Cuba and Mexico, due to his fatigue, was another reason in the
development of Benedict XVI's decision, but not its cause.
The
director of the Press Office confirmed that the Pope's calendar will
continue as scheduled until 28 February, the last day of his
pontificate, with ad limina visits from the Italian bishops, visits
with the presidents of Romania and Guatemala, etc. However, the
expected encyclical on Faith will not be published because the text
still is not ready.
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