Did lightning strike the Vatican when the pope resigned?
Did lightning strike the Vatican when the pope resigned?
When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on 11 February, it wasn’t the only shock to hit the Vatican. There were also electrical shocks, as two separate bolts of lightning struck St Peter’s. The fact that no damage occurred to the basilica suggests that it is quite well protected against lightning.
When did the Vatican get struck by lightning?
Just 24 hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will resign on Feb. 28, lightning struck St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Catholic Church’s center in Rome.
How many times has lightning hit the Vatican?
Lightning struck the Vatican not once but TWICE – hours after Pope Benedict XVI’s shock resignation. The spooky moment, believed by some, to be a sign from God, was caught on camera by AFP photographer Filippo Monteforte.
What happens when a pope resigns?
(In English: If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.
Who is the pope that resigned?
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has marked the eighth anniversary of his historic resignation by insisting that he stepped down knowingly and that “there is only one pope” — Francis. March 1, 2021, at 7:31 a.m.
Why did the pope resign?
The pope stated that the reason for his decision was his declining health due to old age. The conclave to select his successor began on 12 March 2013 and elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who took the name of Francis.
Who was previous pope?
Pope Benedict XVI
| Pope Benedict XVI | |
|---|---|
| Papacy ended | 28 February 2013 |
| Predecessor | John Paul II |
| Successor | Francis |
| Orders |
Is the previous pope still alive?
On 4 September 2020, Benedict XVI became the longest-lived person to have held the office of pope, at 93 years, 4 months, 16 days, surpassing Leo XIII, who died in 1903….
| Pope Benedict XVI | |
|---|---|
| Papacy began | 19 April 2005 |
| Papacy ended | 28 February 2013 |
| Predecessor | John Paul II |
| Successor | Francis |
Why was there lightning strike at the Vatican?
Lightning struck the Vatican not once but TWICE – hours after Pope Benedict XVI’s shock resignation. The spooky moment, believed by some, to be a sign from God, was caught on camera by AFP photographer Filippo Monteforte.
How old was Pope Benedict when he resigned?
Lightning bolt hit Vatican not once but TWICE hours after Pope’s shock resignation. When Benedict was elected aged 78, he was the oldest pope chosen in nearly 300 years. He raised the possibility of resigning if he were too old or sick to continue, when he was interviewed in 2010 for the book “Light of the World.”.
Why did Pope Benedict XVI leave the Vatican?
The Vatican stressed that no specific medical condition prompted Benedict’s decision to quit – the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. The move surprised even his closest aides, even though Benedict, 85, had made clear in the past he would step down if he became too old or infirm.
What was the name of the church hit by lightning?
I had better luck the second time, and was able to snap a couple of images of the dome illuminated by the bolt.” The lightning touched the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic churches, after the Pope’s shock admission he lacks strength to do the job.