The reporter who was covering a routine ceremony by Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 11, 2013, never expected what unfolded, or that her high school Latin would give her the scoop of a lifetime.
Italian journalist Giovanna Chirri poses for a portrait at the end of an interview with The Associated Press at the Vatican, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Giovanna Chirri who was covering a routine ceremony by Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 11, 2013, never expected what unfolded, or that her high school Latin would give her the scoop of a lifetime.
It was the first papal resignation in 600 years, and Chirri, the Vatican correspondent for the authoritative ANSA news agency, was about to report the news to the world. Years later, Chirri still searches for the right words to express the emotional, physical, professional and intellectual combustion that that headline, and all it implied, caused her.Aside from the fact that she truly liked Benedict as a pope, Chirri couldn’t comprehend that the conservative German theologian who spent his life upholding church rules and doctrine would take the revolutionary step of resigning.
“Also, because the pope was reading so calmly, it was like he was telling us what he had had for breakfast that morning,” she added. But Benedict fulfilled both requirements under the law: He stated that he had come to the decision freely, made it public in a Vatican ceremony using the official language of the Holy See, and repeated it for years to come to remove any doubt.And for anyone paying attention, Benedict had hinted about his intentions for years.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope Benedict XVI, Who Resigned in 2013, Dies at 95Pope Benedict XVI, the former head of the Catholic Church, died on Saturday at the age of 95. See potential bias and similarities in coverage from nypost, BBCWorld, and AP:
Read more »
Former Pope Benedict XVI, first pope in centuries to resign, dies at age 95The German-born pontiff never wanted to lead the Catholic Church, and he may be best remembered for the way he departed the role.
Read more »
Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95; was first pope to resign in 600 yearsPope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday.
Read more »
Former Pope Benedict XVI dies age 95; was first pope to resignBenedict stunned the Catholic faithful and religious experts in 2013 when he stepped down from his position as Pope, citing his 'advanced age.'
Read more »
Former Pope Benedict passes awayPope Emeritus Benedict XVI was the first pope in about 600 years to resign.
Read more »