This nations highest award for military valor. Nightly news begins now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with brian williams. Good evening. It came out of nowhere. And it stunned the over 1 billion catholics around the world when the pope announced early this morning, our time, he is stepping down, abdicating. This hasnt happened in seven centuries. Pope benedict has served during a troubling time for the Catholic Church. He says he doesnt have the strength to carry on. His departure now opens up the potential for a huge period of change for a church thats been faced with changing times around the world. We have two reports to start with tonight, beginning with our chief foreign correspondent, richard engel. Richard, good evening. Reporter good evening, brian. Even the popes closest aides said they were stunned. The pope was expected to address a routine meeting of cardinals when he made this announcement. The pope surprised everyone, announcing in
Abdicate in 600 years. For him to retire like that, you know, to me its like losing a father. Reporter the 85yearold cited fading health, saying in a statement i have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of my ministry. Vice President Biden is a practicing catholic. This is a man of great integrity and looking out for what he believes is the best interests of our church. I admire him for it. Reporter benedict used twitter, but had visibly slowed down as the papacy became more demanding, thanks in part to energetic predecessor john paul ii. New Yorks Cardinal Timothy Dolan on benedicts reaction. Almost, i dont know if im up to this, but with gods grace and mercy ill give it my best shot, and hes done it well for almost eight years. That is a man in the full possession of his physical powers is going to be needed. Reporter the college of cardinals will choose, a heavy responsibility says cardinal don dolan. Ill await
Opener, your world in 90 seconds. Its going to be emotional, its going to be tough. They picked a fight with the wrong group of people. Boston strong and ready to run. Its marathon monday a year after bombs shattered the finish line. Security is going to be extremely tight with more than 2,000 officers both in uniform and undercover. Race organizers calling this the safest place on the planet. A teenage stow away surviving a firehour flight in the wheel well of a plane. A second strike hit yemen. In florida, a car plows into a church in the middle of a crowded eastern service, sending more than 20 people to the hospital. Vice President Joe Biden touched down in kiev a day before a high stakes meeting with the ukraine president. And the captain of the ferry has been accused with unacceptable behavior tantamount to murder. And the mile high city celebrates the legal Recreational Use of marijuana. Prince george spent Easter Sunday at the zoo. What prompted this . Weve got a full fledged b
This lightning strike. Can you believe it at st. Peters . Boy, another apt image. Cardinal dolan will be among those choosing the next pope. Heres something interesting. The cardinals are cut off from the entire world when theyre choosing the pope. No television, no phones or computers. And if no pope is chosen, the ballots are burn with a specific chemical that burns black smoke. So weve have to look for the white smoke once the conclave is started. Everyone gathers right there waiting for the pope to come out. Its a big moment. Two things struck me. You have to wonder in terms of geography and world demographics and with the surging hispanic catholic population, which way does the church go at this point . Does someone younger to reach out to the younger generations or someone more liberal to main stream catholics a little more. But that latter maseems less likely. He did say the way the church conducts the new business is not to change with the new pope. What we believe in, and our
Nightly news begins now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with brian williams. Good evening. It came out of nowhere. And it stunned the over 1 billion catholics around the world when the pope announced early this morning, our time, he is stepping down, abdicating. This hasnt happened in seven centuries. Pope benedict has served during a troubling time for the Catholic Church. He says he doesnt have the strength to carry on. His departure now opens up the potential for a huge period of change for a church thats been faced with changing times around the world. We have two reports to start with tonight, beginning with our chief foreign correspondent, richard engel. Richard, good evening. Reporter good evening, brian. Even the popes closest aides said they were stunned. The pope was expected to address a routine meeting of cardinals when he made this announcement. The pope surprised everyone, announcing in latin he was stepping down. I have to recogniz