Vatican City, Feb 13, 2013 / 06:05 am
The last days of Pope Benedict XVI will include three public appearances, a meeting with the priests of Rome, Lenten spiritual exercises, and audiences with politicians and cardinals.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi detailed the final events of the Pope's schedule for the press at a Feb. 13 meeting.
The first event on the list is Ash Wednesday Mass this evening in St. Peter's Basilica, which will be his final concelebration of the liturgy.
It was originally slated to take place at Santa Sabina Basilica on Rome's Aventine Hill in keeping with tradition, but the timing of the Pope's announcement dictated that the Mass will take place in St. Peter's.