VATICAN CITY – A lightning struck St Peter’s dome at the Vatican on Monday after Pope Benedict XVI announced he will resign as leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics on February 28.
The pontiff, 85, made the announced on Monday, ignited a lot of reaction from across the globe.
He says his vast age prevented him from carrying out his duties, an unprecedented move in the modern history of the Catholic Church.
Global news agency Agence France-Presse published an image of lightning striking the basilica’s dome, which it said was taken “on the day the Pope” announced his resignation.
AFP said the striking image was captured by photographer Filippo Monteforte, who works for Italian national news and photo agency ANSA.
Monteforte’s website shows that he has photographed the Pope extensively for for more than a decade. He is also listed as a AFP photographer, with a portfolio of his work on the news agency’s website.
The German-born Pope admired as a hero by conservative Roman Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, told cardinals in Latin that his strength had deteriorated recently. He will step down on Feb. 28 and the Vatican expects a new Pope to be chosen by the end of March.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Pope had not decided to resign because of “difficulties in the papacy” and the move had been a surprise, indicating that even his inner circle was unaware that he was about to quit.
The Pope does not fear schism in the Church after his resignation, the spokesman said.
The Pope’s leadership of 1.2 billion Catholics has been beset by child sexual abuse crises that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.
The pope told the cardinals that in order to govern “…both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.
“For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter.”
He also referred to “today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith.”
The last Pope to resign willingly was Celestine V in 1294 after reigning for only five months, his resignation was known as “the great refusal” and was condemned by the poet Dante in the “Divine Comedy”. Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 to end a dispute with a rival claimant to the papacy.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/639773-lightning-strikes-vatican-after-pope-benedict-resigns.html
The photographer said that it struck twice in a row (he missed the first strike).
Weird eh Angel, this happening the same day the Pope steps down.
Within 2 hours of his announcement.
contrary to popular belief, lighting ALWAYS strikes twice (but right now I don’t remember why, or I’d expand on that)
@Angel_NYC i wonder now if there is actually something to the Saint Malachy’s Prophecy?
My Fellow Americans:
Even if you have zero faith in these so called prophecies, even the most recalcitrant to these kinds of events has to marvel at the sheer tiiming of this!
I personally am not a big believer or follower of any of these prophecies, mostly because of how vague and widely applicable they are, but it has not escaped my notice of the types, intensity and frequency of many of the global events.
It is difficult to ignore the potential, that there just may be some substance to the historical predications of global calamity, and the current circumstances occurring all around the planet.
I can’t help but believe that we truly are on the cusp of dramatic trials and tribulations, as suggested by so many sources from time immortal.
Looks like D-Day may be here just a predicted.
JD – US Marines – Time for the righteous to vanquish the wicked. Luckily for us,.. most of the wicked work in Washington DC, Law Enforcement and the Banking System,.. thereby making it easy to find them.
Or what comes around goes around? Just sayin’
This is funny because it happened to me once. I had to go to church to attend a Christening (or Baptism, I don’t remember) because I was (am) the Godfather of the baby being Christened, and as soon as I walked in the door the church took a lighting bolt to the steeple. I guess God approved of the ceremony or He would have hit me with the bolt instead. Or maybe it was a warning shot.
Reminds me of Back to the Future:
“Dr. Emmett Brown: Marty, I’m sorry, but the only power source capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of electricity is a bolt of lightning.
Marty McFly: [startled] What did you say?
Dr. Emmett Brown: A bolt of lighting. Unfortunately, you never know when or where it’s ever gonna strike.
Marty McFly: We do now.
[hands Doc the “Save the Clock Tower” flyer] “
“It’s alive…..IT’S ALIVE!!!!!”
Weird Science
Maybe the Pope (AKA The German Frankenstein monster) will come out of the Vatican later with new lightning absorbent plugs on the side of his neck.
Or maybe someone will come up to him and say, “I thought your hump was on the other side?” In which he will say, “What hump?”. lol (Young Frankenstein…such a classic)
I can hear the MSM reporters now, “What happened just hours after the Pope resigned was a ‘shocking’ turn of events as lightning struck the Vatican tonight.”
Maybe this is a sign that the Emperor (The German Pope) is wearing new clothes. lol
I guess there’s Big Trouble in Little Vatican. Ahem…
Ok. I’m done. lol
Don’t believe in coincidences.
Not of this nature, anyway.