Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent for the Christian faith. If you can't make it to your local house of worship, there are several locations in the city where you can observe the holiday.
Beginning at 6 a.m., Holy Name Cathedral on State and Superior applied ashes to those who came for the weekday masses. Urban Village Church took Ash Wednesday to the streets, offering ashes at various locations including Daley Plaza at 8 a.m. and numerous train stations throughout the day.
The season of Lent began for Roman Catholics on the heels of news that Pope Benedict XVI will resign at the end of February. The 85-year-old pontiff made his first public comments on Wednesday morning, since his resignation announcement on Monday.
He told the faithful, who gathered in the thousands at Vatican City, that he would be stepping down for "the good of the church."
Benedict basked in a standing ovation that lasted more than a minute.
The Vatican says the pope will spend his final day as pontiff attending a morning farewell ceremony with his cardinals, then fly off by helicopter in the early evening to his papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
That timetable means Benedict will be far from the Vatican when he ceases being pope at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28.
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Wednesday that no formal or symbolic act was needed to make his resignation official at that time, because Benedict had already done all that was required to resign under church law by affirming he had taken the decision freely.
Benedict's final official acts as pope will include audiences with the Romanian and Guatemalan presidents this week and the Italian president on Feb. 23.
Cardinal Francis George will travel to Rome to participate in the conclave that will elect a new pope before the Easter holiday, on March 31.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Tuesday, February 5 2013 3:09 PM EST2013-02-05 20:09:54 GMT
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, and including our friends serving overseas. Thousands of Chicago-style pizzas were sent overseas Tuesday.
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, and including our friends serving overseas. Thousands of Chicago-style pizzas were sent overseas Tuesday.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:16 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:16:28 GMT
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:26:26 GMT
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:40:48 GMT
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
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