Pontiff gives his last Sunday blessing before he resigns
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By LISA EVERS, Fox 5 News Reporter
MYFOXNY.COM -
Pope Benedict the 16th gave his last Sunday blessing before he resigns on Thursday.
Tens of thousands cheered and applauded as the Pontiff greeted them in seven different languages from his window high above Saint Peter's Square.
The Pope thanked the pilgrims for their prayers and support over the past three weeks. The 85-year-old Pontiff told the crowd he is not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church and that he will continue to serve and love the church by praying and meditating during retirement.
Right now the Catholic Church is rocked by reports of a Vatican scandal, but Catholics at St. Patrick's Cathedral say their faith is strong and will see them through.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan said his last mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral before he leaves for the conclave in Rome to select the next Pope. Some believe he would be the ideal successor to Pope Benedict, but his eminence has dismissed the speculation.
After mass, he urged support for the ailing Pontiff.
This week the eyes of the world will turn toward Rome and the replacement of Pope Benedict. Italian newspapers sat there's a secret dossier compiled by three Cardinals that alleges scandals involving money, sex and power. Catholics here are dealing with the disturbing allegations in their own ways.
"This doesn't shake my faith, it's bigger than this," said one parishioner.
"I feel what they do over there doesn't so much affect the church here, but they do need to make reforms."
Whatever their position on the recent developments, many of the faithful Fox 5 spoke with say they hope Pope Benedict's successor is more in touch with the times and launches effective reforms.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:30 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:30:40 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:50 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:50:24 GMT
More than two dozen family members packed a court room to support the daughter who never gave up on finding her father's killer.
More than two dozen family members packed a court room to support the daughter who never gave up on finding her father's killer. For the first time, Joselyn Martinez came face to face with the man she believes took her dad away from her when she was just a little girl.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:03 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:03:08 GMT
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tried to limit the size of soda consumption, ban smoking in parks, encourage bike riding and now there"s another possible plan on the table: mandate recycling of food waste.
West Side resident Matt Murphy has stored a pail of leftovers on his floor for the last two months. His building is part of the city's food-recycling pilot program. Mayor Bloomberg wants to expand the program citywide.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:04 AM EDT2013-06-17 13:04:33 GMT
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest, said Monday that New York University is forcing him and his family to leave.
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest, said Monday that New York University is forcing him and his family to leave.
Monday, June 17 2013 8:21 AM EDT2013-06-17 12:21:23 GMT
Related Companies, a major landlord across the country, is banning smoking in all of its apartments. The new rule is meant to create healthier living conditions, according to company officials.
Related Companies, a major landlord across the country, is banning smoking in all of its apartments. The new rule is meant to create healthier living conditions, according to company officials.
Monday, June 17 2013 7:02 AM EDT2013-06-17 11:02:34 GMT
Two New York City Council committees are holding a hearing on glitches to the city's emergency 911 system that at times have forced phone operators to resort to pen and paper.
Two New York City Council committees are holding a hearing on glitches to the city's emergency 911 system that at times have forced phone operators to resort to pen and paper.
Sunday, June 16 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-06-16 23:05:53 GMT
Sunday was a historical graduation day for the first class of Orthodox Jewish women ordained as members of the clergy. The graduation took place at the Ramaz Upper School on East 78th Street. Yeshivat Maharat is the first institution to train Orthodox women as spiritual leaders. The women have all followed the same course training as their male counterparts and have studied the Torah at advanced levels for years.
Sunday was a historical graduation day for the first class of Orthodox Jewish women ordained as members of the clergy. The graduation took place at the Ramaz Upper School on East 78th Street. Yeshivat Maharat is the first institution to train Orthodox women as spiritual leaders. The women have all followed the same course training as their male counterparts and have studied the Torah at advanced levels for years.
Sunday, June 16 2013 4:52 PM EDT2013-06-16 20:52:05 GMT
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a guest speaker at Stanford University’s commencement in Palo Alto, California Sunday. Bloomberg addressed the graduates speaking about immigration reform and said about 30 percent of Stanford’s 5,000 graduates had attended college on student visas. He also mentioned that many of those same students without a way to work in the U.S. legally would have to return to their countries to compete with American companies.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a guest speaker at Stanford University’s commencement in Palo Alto, California Sunday. Bloomberg addressed the graduates speaking about immigration reform and said about 30 percent of Stanford’s 5,000 graduates had attended college on student visas. He also mentioned that many of those same students without a way to work in the U.S. legally would have to return to their countries to compete with American companies.
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