The pontiff will depart the Vatican later today to spend the next few months at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican permanently to live a life of prayer and academic research.
Details of Pope Benedict’s life after his reign ends have emerged and include him swapping his trademark red shoes for a brown pair. His Fisherman’s Ring will also be destroyed.
Speaking ahead of his resignation next week, Pope Benedict XVI said that God’s beauty was “constantly contradicted by the evil of this world, by suffering and by corruption.”
Enda Kenny clashed with the Catholic Church in the last two years, slamming the “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism that dominates the Vatican today” after the Cloyne report in 2011.
FRANCE HAS BECOME the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage after President Francois Hollande signed the measure into law today following months of bitter political debate.
In Ireland last month, 79 per cent of delegates at the Constitutional Convention voted in favour of same-sex marriage but the Government will hold off on a referendum until next year despite the overwhelming support.
It comes two years after the legalisation of Civil Partnership.
Is another year too long for a referendum on gay marriage? Or, are you opposed to the idea entirely?
So today, we want to know what do you think. Would you welcome the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland today, similar to France?
Cloudy, rain and drizzle in the p.m.
Max: 11 °C
Min: 9 °C
Partly sunny
Max: 15 °C
Min: 6 °C
Nice with periods of clouds and sunshine
Max: 19 °C
Min: 9 °C
What did the Pope say about abortion yesterday?
Was Benedict referring to Ireland when he spoke of laws that “unjustly alter the balance” between mother and baby?
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