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
Good morning, claudio. Reporter good morning, natalie. Even the elements seem to be reacting to his shocking news. Theres a storm raging over vatican city just behind me now. It took everybody by surprise, this announcement this morning. It even took by surprise his closest aides, his spokesperson, lombardi, saying in a press conference that he didnt even know about it, and if he didnt know about it, then who would . Well, maybe just the closest cardinals he confessed it to. The cardinals, more than 120 now. Certainly he made his announcement as if it was a lowkey decision. He did that during a fairly small cardinals gathering here in the vatican and he just said, look, i just dont have the strength anymore to carry on my duties. You need both body and mind to carry on the very important duties of the pope and the leader of the billion Catholic Church and he just doesnt have the strength anymore. Claudio lavagne reporting outside vatican city. Thank you very much. Hoping that a 1 milli
I was 18 when I first attended a rock concert, and I was also a tacky AF Californian from one of our many valleys. You’d most often find me on a tanning bed, at Abercrombie and Fitch, or listening to…