S it he a place where tourists and pilgrims gather on a daily bases. Any idea the reaction of the people among the street or in the plaza . Reporter oh, yeah. We spoke to a number of people here. They saw all of the cameras charging over them. They were there to visit st. Peters square on a quiet monday morning as the tourists do here. They asked us what is going on. Nobody really got the news. When they told them Pope Benedict xvi was redesignisignry didnt know. Actually, he can, but obviously, no pope has done that for 700 years. So no wonder people are aware of that. For now on that may change the course of the Catholic Church in the future as well as Pope Benedict xvi is setting an example. If you dont have the strength to carry on let someone younger and more strength to carry on the mission. It certainly is a monument ool announcement. Claudio, thank you very much. This morning we spoke with greg burke the senior communication adviser to the holy see in rome. We began by asking h
Morning. Im matt lauer. And im savannah guthrie. Cant say that this is unprecedented for a pope to just step down, but you have to go back 1600 years to find another example of it. Pope benedict xvi announcing he is stepping down as leader of the Catholic Church. Huge news for the worlds 1 billion catholics. And noncatholics as well. The 85yearold pope made the announcement moments ago, saying his strength is no longer adequate to carry on his duties. In a moment well talk about the decision with Timothy Cardinal dolan, the highest ranking catholic here in the united states. Claudeio is in rome. This morning, would you say this is total surprise . Reporter matt, this was total surprise. Always clear that Pope Benedict xvi was getting weaker by the month. Every time we saw him coming out on official celebration, he did look weaker and weaker, but then he again he is an 85yearold man. John paul ii before him was even in worse shape and he did not resign. Nobody was really expecting him t
Their roles. The stakes, who will lead the church for the years ahead, probably for our lifetimes. Its going to matter and not just to catholics. Im joined by Melinda Henin burger and e. J. Deon. Here is my pick, Cardinal Angelo scala, just barely young enough to make it. The biggest thing he has gone in his favor, the pope wants him and there are a lot of voting cardinals who owe the pope. A majority were picked by the fellow right there, his holeyness. About 56 , close to the twothirds needing to win. Hes italian, that always helps. Hes european, 62, a majority are from europe. You know how political im getting here . Im just starting here, melinda. This is a political enterprise. Its a secular event and its an election very democratic. My bet is that this pope wants a quick election because he has a successor and he wants that successor to be his guy scala from milan. Your thoughts . I agree with you that i think scala is the most likely outcome but i do not see benedict as trying t
Well, the question is whether a new pope to be elected in the next two or three weeks can refine Church Doctrine on matters like birth control, the role of women. Can he correct and meet certainly head on the scandals that have besieged and enraged the Catholic Church in the u. S. And in ireland and other countries . Tonight i will tell you what i think. I know who the front runner is right now and what we can expect of him. And lets face it, the election of a pope is a political as well as a spiritual undertaking. Ambition and humility both play their roles. The stakes, who will lead the church for the years ahead, probably for our lifetimes. Its going to matter and not just to catholics. Im joined by Melinda Henneberger and e. J. Dionne. Here is my pick, Cardinal Angelo scola, just barely young enough to make it. The biggest thing he has going in his favor, the pope wants him, and there are a lot of voting cardinals who owe the pope. A majority were picked by the fellow right there,
Tonight i will tell you what i think. I know who the front runner is right now and what we can expect of him. And lets face it, the election of a pope is a political as well as a spiritual undertaking. Ambition and humility both play their roles. The stakes, who will lead the church for the years ahead, probably for our lifetimes. Its going to matter and not just to catholics. Im joined by Melinda Henneberger and e. J. Dionne. Here is my pick, Cardinal Angelo scola, just barely young enough to make it. The biggest thing he has going in his favor, the pope wants him, and there are a lot of voting cardinals who owe the pope. A majority were picked by the fellow right there, his holiness. About 56 , closeo the twothirds needing to win. Hes italian, that always helps. Hes european. 62, a majority are from europe. You know how political im getting here . Im just starting here, melinda. This is a political enterprise. Its a secular event, and its an election, very democratic. My bet is that