PHOTOS: I Had 9 Surgeries In Germany...Patience Jonathan Admits As She Throws 500million Naira 'Resurrection' Thanksgiving Party

About 5000 guests, including 18 state governors, have overrun Abuja for a lavish thanksgiving party thrown for Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, at a cost of N500 million.

Although she had previously denied being in hospital in Germany, Mrs. Jonathan opened up today at a special service at the Aso Rock Chapel, stunning worshippers with the admission her medical condition had been very serious.

“I actually died,” Premium Times quoted her as testifying. “I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened.”

She said her doctors had actually given up hope, although she did not specify her diagnosis. “It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days.”

During her six weeks away from Nigeria last year, the presidency refused to say anything to the country about her condition. Upon her return to Abuja on October 17, Mrs. Jonathan denied having been in any hospital. “I don’t even know that hospital they are talking about…” she said on that occasion. “I do not have any terminal illness or cosmetic surgery.”

For today’s thanksgiving merriment, an organising committee chaired by Mr. John Kennedy Okpara raised over N500m, which would most likely be presented to Mrs. Jonathan as a gift, as the presidency is bankrolling the event.

The thanksgiving, which is being broadcast live on the National Television Authority’s (NTA) local and international channels, has such dignitaries as President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo and his wife, Haj Amina; former Ghana President John Agyekum Kufour; former Nigeria Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; and Aisha Babangida, who is representing her ailing father and former military president, General Ibrahim Bademasi Babangida.

Also in attendance are members of the Federal Executive Council; wives of state governors; the wife of Senate President; the Deputy Senate President; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; members of the National Assembly; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Alhaji Bello Sali; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria; and several members of the international community.
The function, which commenced at 3p.m. Nigerian time, is expected to go on into the late evening.

There were early invitations for 3,000 people, but the Banquet Hall of State House was quickly filled to capacity, with several guests unable to find a place to sit down.
Several trucks bearing gifts from government officials and contractors lined the streets of the presidential villa waiting to deliver gifts to the First Lady.

Our reporter saw luxury official cars parked everywhere around the Presidential Villa, from the Supreme Court to the Villa in Asokoro area of Abuja. Many of the guests parked their cars at the Eagle Square, where buses were provided to convey them to the venue of the event.

In 2012, Mrs. Jonathan suddenly became ill and was evacuated in a medical emergency to Germany. SaharaReporters was informed by well-placed sources that her medical troubles had begun earlier in Dubai, where she was then treated because her hands were twitching.

It was upon her return to Abuja following that experience that she was rushed in an air ambulance to Wiesbaden, Germany, where she reportedly underwent surgery to remove uterine fibroids. One of our sources said her condition was exacerbated by Parkinson’s disease, while the Lagos-based PM News reported that Mrs. Jonathan was being treated for uterine cancer.

The presidency neither confirmed nor denied any of the reports, until Mrs. Jonathan, upon her return, issued her own denial. In a November 2012 Media Chat, President Jonathan contradicted her account, telling reporters his wife had been ill and needed treatment.
Four weeks ago, on January 14, Mrs. Jonathan was again flown out to Germany on another emergency, less than 24 hours after SaharaReporters revealed that she was billed for another health-related trip to Spain. A scheduled appearance at a presidential event for foreign ambassadors was cancelled.

In her church testimony today, an apparently humbled Mrs. Jonathan revealed the extent of her suffering, including having “eight or nine operations” within a period of one month.
Of the future, she said, “I will be doing things that will touch the lives of the less privileged. God gave me a second chance because I reached there. He knew I had not completed the assignments He gave me that was why I was sent back.”

Observers said this afternoon it will be curious to see how she implements that agenda, given her track record as well the massive “celebration” that is costing Nigerian taxpayers a ton of money on top of her humongous medical expenses so far.

caption: Pres. Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Akpabio and Mrs. Patience Jonathan

saharareporters

Gunmen abduct seven foreign construction workers in Nigeria

Gunmen stormed a Lebanese-owned construction site in northern Nigeria, kidnapping seven foreign workers and killing a security guard, police said Sunday.

Two Lebanese, an Italian and a Greek have been confirmed by their governments to be among those seized in the attack late Saturday on the Lebanese-owned Setraco construction site in the town of Jama'are in Bauchi State.

"From the report we have received, the hostages are seven in all. They include four Lebanese, an Italian, a Briton and a Greek," Bauchi state police spokesman Hassan Auyo said.

However there has been no confirmation that a Briton was among those kidnapped, nor that the number of Lebanese was four.

"We are aware of reports and are making enquiries with the local authorities," Britain's Foreign Office said.

The Lebanese foreign ministry said two of its citizens were among those seized, while officials in Athens and Rome have confirmed that a Greek citizen and an Italian were kidnapped.

Bauchi is among the states in northern Nigeria attacked repeatedly by Islamists from the Boko Haram group, but it was not clear if they were behind the latest violence.

Bauchi's police chief Mohammed Ladan said a security guard was shot dead in the raid in Jama'are, which lies about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the state capital Bauchi city.

Setraco Nigeria, a construction and civil engineering company, is a subsidiary of Setraco International Holding group.

The Nigerian company, which was established in 1977, is currently working on expanding a major road in northern Nigeria.

The attack on the construction site came after the same gunmen were repelled while trying to storm a police station and a prison in the town, the police chief further explained.

Gunmen launched a similar attack on a police station in the town of Kafin Madaki, 40 kilometres from the state capital, triggering a shootout, but Ladan did not provide any casualty figures.
globalpost.com

PHOTOS: Pregnant Kim Kardashian Arrives Lagos Ahead Of Concert!

Pregnant Kim Kardashian this evening at about 8.20 pm Nigerian time, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The US reality TV star, is in the country to co-host R&B crooner, Dare Art Alade, in his love concert tagged Love: Like A Movie.

She arrived without her boyfriend, Kanye West and has been checked into the Eko Victoria Island.

 

 

Goldie’s ‘Little Secret’?

Goldie and Prezzo

Susan Harvey, popularly known has Goldie left Nigerians in shock when she died on Valentine’s Day. More shocking are the revelations that have been popping up since she died.

Some sources had earlier said Goldie died of pulmonary embolism, PM News yesterday reported that she died of drug use. The two causes are interrelated, so there is no reason why anyone should doubt PM News’ report until a credible source speaks out. Drug use may cause pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary embolism may lead to sudden death.As fans of Goldie try to deal with this revelation, another one came up via Facebook raising questions about Goldie’s marital status. Was she married or single? Does it mean that Goldie while she lived had an identical twin? If that was actually Goldie, what else did we not know about her?

Andrew and Susan Harvey

Do you think she’s the one in this picture?

A man named Andrew Harvey who claims to be Goldie’s husband posted this comment online: “Memories of my darling wife; a few pictures of my moments with her before she died last Thursday”

The Couple with their parents

Goldie left at a time when some her dreams her were ready to come true. Sources close to the talented songstress disclosed that one of her unfufilled dreams was to see her own reality show completed and accepted. She had already shot some episodes with best friend, Denrele Edun of Channel O. They were both hoping that the reality show ‘Tru Friend’ would start showing in TV stations by the end of the month.

She also had plans for marriage with Kenyan born Big Brother Africa co-housemate, Prezzo whom she fell in love with at the Big Brother House. Some even say, had they been together on Valentine’s Day, Prezzo planned proposing to her on the day, with pictures of the supposed engagement ring all over blogs.

Goldie was born Susan Adebimpe Filani and she hailed from Ekiti state. She studied and lived in the UK for some years before she returned to Nigeria to focus on hermusic career.

informationnigeria

Actress, Foluke Daramola Marries Lagos Big Boy, Kayode Salako***After Wrecking His 13 years Old Marriage***

Popular yoruba actress, Foluke Daramola few hours ago had a traditional wedding with the new man in her life.
The wedding took place at Foluke’s parents’ home at No 2, Gbeleyi Avenue, by Oyemekun Street, Ogba, Lagos.
Foluke Daramola’s new husband is Kayode Salako, the man behind a Lagos based pressure group called FASHOLAMANIA.
He is also the promoter of a group known as Change Agent of Nigeria Network.

The traditional wedding today makes it the second time the actress will be getting married. Foluke was formerly married to Tunde Sobowale, son of Ex- Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sobowale.

The wedding ceremony between Foluke and Tunde was a talk of the town, as the then governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was the chairman of the reception.

The union produced two kids before it crashed few years back.

Foluke’s new marriage is also with it’s own stinking scandals as it was alleged that the actress destroyed Kayode Salako’s 13 year old marriage to his wife, Olubukola.

Olukubola who is said to be a Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God packed out of her matrimonial home some months back when her husband refused to end the romance with the busty actress.

Culled from Yemojanews

‘My mother-in-law demands my finger nails!’

A middle-aged man, Luqman Agoro, has pleaded with the Agege Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve his marriage to Saidat. He claimed that his wife was stubborn and denied him access to his child. He said she had been negatively influenced by her mother.

“She does not listen to me; she does anything her mother wants her to do. She does not mind if it’s bad or good and she keeps to herself,” he said.

He told the court that there was a time his mother-in-law asked his wife to bring his finger nails and his wife didn’t tell him until he was eventually confronted by his mother-in-law.

“She doesn’t listen to me; but she does anything her mother tells her with dispatch,” he said.

Agoro told the court that his wife left her matrimonial home because he asked her to stop attending the same church with her mother.

Responding, Sadiat, 27, a sales girl, denied some of the allegations.

“My husband threw me out of my matrimonial home for giving birth to a baby girl.

“He had warned me earlier that if I give birth to a baby girl I would not live under the same roof with him and that he would not be responsible for the child upbringing,” she said.

The court president, Emmanuel Shokunle, granted the custody of the child to the mother, asking the father to be responsible for the upkeep of the child.

He said both of them shall no longer be addressed as husband and wife.

punch

PHOTOS: Nigerian Model, Adaora Akubilo Poses For American Magazine

Nigeria-American model Adaora Akubilo is one of the stars of the 2013 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated Magazine.

This edition of the SI’s swimsuit issue featured photoshoots from all over the world! Adaora’s was photographed by Kayt Jones in beautiful Namibia in Southern Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos courtesy bellanaija

informationnigeria



PM News, Lagos: Goldie Died Of Drugs— Sources

Nigeria’s music diva, Susan Oluwabimpe Harvey, popularly known as Goldie, who died Thursday night may have died as a result of doping complications, close sources to her said.

She died last night at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, and barely few hours after she arrived from Los Angeles, United States of America.

Goldie: shocking death

Goldie’s death was confirmed yesterday by her management via her Facebook Page and Twitter handle. The post reads: “It is with heavy heart that I have to announce to you all that Goldie passed on this night (last night) shortly after arriving Lagos from Los Angeles. May her soul rest in the eternal peace of the Lord… Amin.”

The main cause of her death is still sketchy as at time of filing this report. Goldie was said to have been rushed to Reddington Hospital by close friend, Denrele Edun from her Park View residence after she complained of headache.

But a source close to the music star confided in P.M.NEWS that Goldie died of complications from the use of drugs. “She had complications from the use of dope. I guess things went wrong this time around.”

Another source also told P.M.NEWS this morning that “she had been into this drug stuff for some time now. I believe that contributed to her death.” Goldie, who represented Nigeria at last year’s Big Brother Amplified (BBA) in South Africa, is signed to Kennis Music.

Keke Ogungbe, the President of Kennis Music, confirmed the death of the songstress in a statement this morning. “On behalf of Kennis Music, I’m sad to officially confirm the shocking and untimely passage of Nigeria’s pop star, Goldie Harvey. With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache at her Park View residence shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award.

“She was rushed to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance Goldie passed away, the abundance of talent she has exhibited in her but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters.”

The remains of Goldie, who hails from Ekiti State have been deposited at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

The deceased attended Green Springs Montessori Primary School and St. John’s College, Palm Grove before moving on to the University of Sunderland where she studied Business Management.

She joined Kennis Music in 2010 and had her debut album, Gold. Some of her hit songs are “You Know It”, “JawoJawo” and DTMB (Don’t Touch My Body).

In her music career, Goldie received 10 awards, including Exquisite Lady of the year, Best Female Artiste award and City People Best Female Artiste of the year.

Goldie became the final celebrity to exit the BBA7 star game house in 2012 as the 3rd runner up.

Apocalypse Now?...Meteorite Injures Hundreds After Streaking Across Russia's Ural Mountains (VIDEO, PICTURES)

Hundreds of people have been left injured after a meteor streaked through the skies above Russia's Ural mountains.

Fragments of the meteor fell to the ground, breaking windows and setting off car alarms in the Chelyabinsk region while a series of loud bangs caused panic amid initial fears there had been a plane crash.

One eyewitness told The Moscow Times: "It started to explode in the air and then continued to the earth. There are black clouds over the city. Everybody thought war had broken out."
Scroll down for videos and more pictures

The meteor streaked across the skies above Russia's Ural mountains


Click below to watch video:

A government official told Interfax: "The flashes in the lower layers of the atmosphere caused by a meteor shower were recorded above both the Urals and the Volga Federal District, the impact of which caused windows to shatter in the upper floors of buildings."

The majority of injuries were minor, caused by broken glass. According to the Natural History Museum, there have been no recorded deaths due to a meteorite fall.

huffingtonpost

Former Big Brother Housemate, Goldie Dead

Former Big Brother housemate, Goldie Harvey is dead. Goldie – real name – died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache at her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence shortly after her arrival from the United States according to an official statement released by the President of Kennis Music, Keke Ogungbe.

The statement further explains, “She was rushed to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.”

Ogungbe describes Goldie’s death as “shocking and untimely”.

He said, We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance Goldie passed away, the abundance of talent she has exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her.

“She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage.”

Goldie has just jetted back to Nigeria after a short visit to the United States of America where she attended this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony.

Meanwhile, the remains of Goldie, who hails from Ekiti State are been preserved at the mortuary of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. The family will announce the burial arrangements

Her latest musical releases included “Skibo”, Miliki" and "Got To Have It" off her album “African Invasion”.

Goldie was romantically linked to rapper Prezzo.

May her soul rest in peace.

star.co.ke

Man Who Dug Out And Ate His Own Eye Faces Execution Despite History Of Mental Health Issues

How insane does one have to be to avoid being executed?

That's the question asked by longtime capital punishment lawyer Marc Bookman in an essay published this week in Mother Jones about Texas death row inmate Andre Thomas.

In 2004, Thomas killed his estranged wife, his 4-year-old son and her 13-month-old daughter "in the most bizarre case in Grayson County history," Bookman writes.
Andre had cut out the children's hearts and returned home with the organs in his pockets ... he was careful to use three different knives so that the blood from each body would not cross-contaminate, thereby ensuring that the demons inside each of them would die. He then stabbed himself in the chest, but he did not die as he had hoped. In fact, he was well enough to leave a message on his wife's parents' phone explaining that he thought he was in hell, and he managed to confess to the police what he had done before they took him in for emergency surgery.

Bookman, who has never represented Thomas, told The Huffington Post he believes the 29-year-old defendant, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2005, will eventually be spared from execution. He points out that, while behind bars, Thomas gouged out each of his eyes in two separate incidents, and on the most recent occasion ate his left eye.

Thomas "didn't want the government to read his thoughts, so he ate the eye because he was certain they would figure out some way to put it back in," Bookman writes.

"I'm hoping at this point, someone will take a step back and say it's just not civilized to seek someone's execution when that person is so profoundly mentally ill," Bookman told HuffPost. "He wasn't culpable in the way that someone who is not mentally ill would be."

In order to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, the defense's case "hinges on a defendant's inability to connect his crime with the consequences," Bookman writes. In Texas, a suspected killer whose insanity was caused by voluntary intoxication can't use insanity as a defense.

That's exactly what the prosecution in Thomas' case successfully argued. Grayson County district attorneys said the crimes were likely sparked by Thomas' ingestion of cough medicine, alcohol and marijuana.

Bookman said Thomas' trial attorneys didn't bring up their client's long personal and family history of mental illness.

"As with many of these cases, the defense at trial did not do a particularly great job," Bookman said. "They didn't have much of the evidence of his mental illness. It wasn't until his federal lawyers got involved that these records came to light."

Thomas, as Bookman documents, comes from at least two generations of family members with serious mental health problems.

Maurie Levin, Thomas' lead attorney handling his appeal, said her client has been hearing voices in his head since he was 9 years old.

Thomas said he killed his three victims because he believed he heard a message from God telling him to kill "Jezebel, the Antichrist, and a related evil spirit," Bookman writes. He also notes that even doctors representing the state have diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic.

"I don't think he knew right from wrong," Bookman said. "He has been under the sway of delusions for a large part of his life. At some point he says when he hears voices, he's not sure who's speaking, if it's his voice or if it's someone else's voice."

Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown said there was ample evidence presented at trial that showed Thomas knew what he was doing was wrong.

"He ran away from the crime scene and tried to avoid detection. He took equipment to the scene to cover up what he was doing, and there was planning of the deaths," Brown said. "When he's going away from the scene, he hears sirens and runs away. If you don't know you've done something wrong, then why would you run?"

Brown also said Thomas turned down a plea deal for life in prison.

"He had mental illness, but that's not the standard for exoneration in the case. And his mental illness was caused or at least exacerbated by heavy drug use," Brown said.

Levin said she knows she faces extra hurdles in Texas, a state responsible for 37 percent of all executions in America since 1977, but she's cautiously optimistic her client will stave off lethal injection.

"I have to have faith that any reasonable judge will see the travesty of pressing the execution of somebody as mentally ill as Andre," Levin said.

huffingtonpost

One of these men will be the next pope...meet the candidates

1. Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana

Cardinal Peter Turkson is the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. He studied at St. Teresa's Seminary in the village of Amisano and later at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, where he obtained a Master's degree in Theology. He was ordained into priesthood by Archbishop John Amissah in 1975. In 1992, Turkson was appointed Archbishop of Cape Coast by Pope John Paul II and then made him Cardinal-Priest of S. Liborio in 2003. He is the first Ghanaian cardinal. If elected, he will be the first black pope and pope from Africa.

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2. Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada


Cardinal Marc Ouellet is the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in 2003. He was previously the archbishop of Quebec and primate of Canada. He is a strong candidate for the next pope, but Ouellet once called the idea of being pope "a nightmare."

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3. Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria


Cardinal Francis Arinze is Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni. He was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II. If elected, he will be the first black pope and pope from Africa.

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4. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Argentina


Cardinal Leonardo Sandri was born to Italian parents, but raised in Buenos Aires. He is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, elevated to the cardinalate in 2007. If elected, he will be the first pope from South America.

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5. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras


Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga is the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa and President of Caritas Internationalis, elevated to the cardinalate in 2001. He was a contender for papacy during the last conclave when Pope Benedict XVI was elected. Maradiaga is an advocate of global anti-corruption and the pardoning of debt for poorer countries.

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6. Archbishop Angelo Scola of Italy


Angelo Scola was appointed Archbishop of Milan by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 and was previously Patriarch of Venice. He is a scholar on Islam and Catholic-Muslim dialogue.

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7. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi of Italy


Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi is an Italian prelate and serves in the Roman Curia as President of the Pontifical Council for Culture. He was elevated to cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He is described as intellectually brilliant and a great communicator both in and out of the church.

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8. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Italy


Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco is the Archbishop of Genoa and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, elevated to cardinalate in 2007. He is considered to be more conservative in his views.

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9. Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Austria


Cardinal Christoph Schonborn is the Archbishop of Vienna and President of the Austrian Bishops Conference, elevated to cardinalate in 1998. He recently allowed a gay catholic to serve on a parish council.

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10. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Italy


Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone serves as serves as Cardinal Secretary of State and Camerlengo and was previously the Archbishop of Vercelli. He was elevated to cardinalate in 2003.

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation explained

In an unexpected move, Pope Benedict XVI -- born Joseph Ratzinger -- has announced that he is to resign. Benedict was elected pope in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II. We explore what the surprise announcement means for the Catholic Church.

 

 

Why has Pope Benedict XVI resigned?

In his statement, Pope Benedict -- who turns 86 in April -- said he had come to the certainty "that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Pope Benedict had the right and potentially the duty to resign.

But he stressed that the pope's decision was not because of any external pressure.

 

Is the pope in poor health?

Lombardi told reporters the pope was not unwell.

"There isn't any disease specifically -- it's all to do with deterioration and weakness in his body, as the holy pontiff has said in his statement," he said.

Lombardi said the battery in the pope's pacemaker -- which he has had since he was a cardinal -- had been replaced in the last few months, but he stressed that it was a routine procedure.

When will he step down?

The pope said that he would step down at 8:00 p.m. on February 28, Rome time.

Lombardi said as far has he knew, the day was "just an ordinary day" without particular significance but that Pope Benedict might have chosen it to ensure a new pope was in place for Easter.

He said he understood the pope usually finished his working day at 8:00 p.m. which was why he had chosen that specific hour to step down.

Is it normal for popes to resign?

It is the first time a pope has resigned in nearly 600 years.

The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. He stepped down to end the "Great Western Schism" -- during which there were rival claims to the papal throne.

In 1294, Pope Celestine V resigned after only five months, preferring the simple life of a monk to the majesty of being pope.

According to the National Catholic Weekly, modern popes have felt that resignation is unacceptable and could encourage factions within the church to pressure pontiffs to step down.

Canon law states that a resignation must be made freely and properly manifested and that the pope resigning must be of sound mind.

When will the next pope be elected?

A meeting of the College of Cardinals to elect the next pope will be held. The gathering is known as a "conclave."

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said there would be elections some time in March and he anticipated that there would be a new pope before Easter.

Lombardi said Vatican scholars were studying the constitution to determine exactly when the conclave would begin.

What is the election process?

By law, the conclave begins in the Sistine Chapel. On that morning, the cardinals will celebrate the Votive Mass, "Pro Eligendo Papa." That afternoon, the cardinals begin the election process.

The cardinals draw lots to select three members to collect ballots from the infirm, three "tellers" to count the votes and three others to review the results.

Blank ballots are then prepared and distributed. The ballots are rectangular in shape and must bear in the upper half, in print if possible, the words "Eligo in Summum Pontificem," meaning "I elect as supreme pontiff." The electors write the name of the candidate on the lower half and fold it in two.

After writing the name of one man on his ballot, each of the active cardinals -- those under 80 years of age -- walks to an altar in order of seniority and pledges to perform his duty with integrity. Each cardinal then places a folded ballot containing his choice onto a small disc made of precious metal and drop it inside a chalice.

After all votes are cast, the tellers tally the ballots and the result is read to the cardinals. If a cardinal receives two-thirds plus one of the votes, he is the new pontiff.

If there is no winner, another vote is taken. If there is still no winner, two more votes are scheduled for the afternoon.

How is the result of the vote broadcast?

After the votes are counted each time, the ballots are burned. If there has been no winner, a chemical is mixed with the ballots to produce black smoke when they are burned.

Sight of the black smoke emerging from the roof of the Vatican Palace tells those waiting in St. Peter's Square that a pope has not yet been selected.

When a winner has been selected, the ballots are burned alone, and the white smoke indicates there is a new pope.

What do you think of the Pope's decision?

What will the pope do until he officially steps down?

Lombardi said the pope's appointments up until the end of February -- including audiences with the presidents of Romania and Guatemala -- had been confirmed.

On February 27, the pope's last general audience will take place. Lombardi said the Vatican was trying to arrange for it to be held in St Peter's square so that more people could attend and "to make it a sort of tribute to the holy pontiff."

 

CNN